Cholera: Lagos issues health advisory to parents, schools

The Lagos State Government has called for adherence to precautionary measures to ensure children’s safety amid the cholera outbreak as schools resume from the midterm and Sallah break.

The government, in an advisory issued on Monday to parents, guardians, and school authorities, urged all to adhere to safety guidelines to ensure the health and safety of children.

It called for daily health checks and monitoring of a child’s health for symptoms such as frequent watery stool with or without vomiting.

The government appealed to parents to keep their children at home if they exhibit any signs of illness and seek medical advice.

The state called for hand hygiene by ensuring a child carries a hand sanitizer and encouraging frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom.

It advised schools to ensure that all school food handlers follow strict hygiene practices to prevent contamination and the spread of cholera.

“Ensure that Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) are available at school clinics or bays to manage dehydration cases promptly.

“Schools should notify the emergency hotlines immediately in case of any health emergency or suspected cholera cases,” it said.

The government appealed to parents to stay in touch with their children’s school for updates on health guidelines and report any health concerns to the school promptly.

“Together, we can create a safe and healthy environment for our children as they return to their educational activities.

“Stay safe and vigilant,” the government advised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos State on June 11 alerted residents to the outbreak of cholera in the state.

The state commissioner for health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that laboratory tests confirmed that the outbreak was due to cholera, with the identified strain being highly aggressive and contagious, with potential for widespread transmission.

Abayomi disclosed that 350 suspected cases of cholera were reported in 29 wards across multiple local government areas in the state.

According to him, there are 17 confirmed cases and 15 fatalities attributed to severe dehydration caused by delayed presentation at health facilities.

NAN reports that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for extensive measures to protect schoolchildren against the cholera outbreak in the country.

UNICEF said cholera “critically affects” children and the young population, noting that efforts should be made to protect them.

The agency called for efforts to prevent disruption in the academic calendar over the spread of the disease.