The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to swiftly implement measures to curb the spread of cholera across Nigeria. This resolution followed a motion of public urgent importance moved by House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, titled “Urgent need to check the outbreak of cholera in Lagos and other parts of the country.”
During a plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the House urged both the Federal and state governments to take immediate action to control the cholera outbreak. The legislative chamber also mandated its Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values to initiate rigorous public orientation, enlightenment, and education campaigns on the importance of maintaining personal hygiene.
Furthermore, the Committee on Healthcare Services was tasked with liaising with relevant stakeholders in the health sector to investigate the root cause of the outbreak and report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action and intervention.
Chinda expressed deep concern over the public and personal health risks faced by Nigerians due to the lack of access to clean water, poor sanitation, and inadequate personal hygiene. He emphasized the alarming rate at which cholera has spread across Lagos and other parts of the country, noting the government’s current shortage of vaccines to effectively tackle the outbreak as the death toll continues to rise.
“There is an urgent need for quick action/intervention by the federal and respective state governments to curb the disease from further spread across the country,” Chinda stated. He warned that without immediate and proactive measures, the cholera outbreak could escalate further, posing a significant threat to the health of the citizenry and the nation as a whole.
The cholera outbreak, which began in Lagos State, has rapidly spread to other regions, raising serious concerns among citizens and stakeholders. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has reported numerous deaths and the disease has now affected approximately 31 states, including Abia, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Nasarawa, Katsina, and Zamfara.
