The United Nations Children’s Fund has stated that children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to severe dehydration and higher mortality rates during cholera outbreaks.
Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to severe dehydration and high mortality rates during cholera outbreaks, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The challenges posed by cholera outbreaks necessitate a deliberate focus on state policies to provide high-standard water and sanitation facilities, as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of meeting demand during outbreaks, according to a statement released on Saturday by Celine Lafoucrier, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office.
In order to safeguard children and the general public, she continued, the state ought to spearhead cholera prevention education campaigns.
“Recurrent Cholera outbreaks critically affect children and populations at large. These vulnerable groups face substantial health risks, particularly those under five who are prone to severe dehydration and higher mortality rates.
“Educational disruption is yet another critical consequence of cholera outbreaks, as illness and the need to care for sick family members lead to school closures and reduced attendance, hindering children’s learning and development.
Similarly, post-recovery issues in children can include malnutrition, stunted growth, and weakened immune systems, increasing susceptibility to other diseases,” she said.
Lafoucrier advised that sustainable WASH infrastructure and strengthened health systems capable of anticipating epidemics as well as, effective community engagement strategies were crucial to halt transmission.
Lafoucrier explained that the WASH infrastructure includes enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, implementing rapid surveillance, promoting social mobilisation, administering treatment, and utilising oral cholera vaccines.
“Ultimately, preventing cholera centres on good sanitation and hygiene practices. Key actions include proper disposal of faeces, eliminating open defecation, and ensuring access to potable water. Regular handwashing with clean, running water and soap is vital.
“Additionally, avoiding the consumption of uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors is important to reduce the risk of cholera infection, she said.
She maintained that increasing access to safe drinking water, improving sanitation and hygiene, and better water management could prevent almost one-tenth of the global disease burden.
Speaking about the potential impact of disease outbreaks on Nigeria’s progress toward SDG 3, Lafoucrier disclosed that “In the end, disease outbreaks impede Nigeria’s advancement toward accomplishing health-related Sustainable Development Goals. These outbreaks put a strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system by taking scarce resources away from necessary programs like antenatal care and routine immunizations, which threatens universal health coverage.
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She disclosed that the presence of adequate water and sanitation facilities was critical in mitigating the spread of diseases like cholera, which kills an estimated 100,000 people yearly.
[23:58, 15/06/2024] Shehu Jemila: Fake EFCC operatives bag 46 years jail term for impersonation, fraud Ugwu Chijioke and Ibrahim Adekunle, two men who impersonated members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and carried out a fictitious court order, were given 46 years in prison.
The two were taken into custody in May 2021 at New Horizon Estate in Lekki, Lagos, after the commission received reliable information, according to a statement posted on X.com on Sunday.
They were spotted conducting an unlawful operation at the time of their arrest.
Fake EFCC identity cards, coats, and an allegedly Mushin Magistrate Court court order were among the items found during their arrest.
On October 12, 2021, the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC subsequently arraigned them on a five-count charge that was later amended to include impersonation, attempted property fraud, possession of false documents, and wearing the EFCC uniform unlawfully.
The suspects entered a guilty plea to the charges after being arraigned before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offenses Court in Ikeja.
Following their admission of guilt, Abdulhamid Tukur, the prosecution’s attorney, reviewed the case facts to show their guilt.
Tukur then asked the judge to find him guilty and to impose the appropriate sentences.
They were found guilty on counts one, two, three, four, and five as charged by Justice Abike-Fadipe.
When granted a chance to speak before the court, the defendants begged for forgiveness.
The defendants were sentenced to seven years on counts one through three, one year on count four, and eight months on count five by Justice Abike-Fadipe, who delivered the verdict.
The sentences must be read aloud in succession.
One of the counts reads: “ That you, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadiq Adekunle, on or about the 12th day of May, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain property from one Oriyomi Johnson under the pretext that the “Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos State Judiciary, Mushin, Lagos” issued an Order to the effect that the property located at New Horizon Estate, Lekki- Ikate, Lagos be seized and the said apartment sealed pending the arrival of the said Oriyomi Johnson ,which representation you knew to be false and committed an offence of attempt to obtain property by false pretense contrary to Sections 8(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section11(3) of the same Act.”
Another count reads, “That you, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadiq Adekunle, on or about the 12th day of May, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court not being a person holding any office in or authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, wore a jacket bearing the official mark of the Commission ,which was calculated to convey the impression that you held such authority and committed an offence of unlawfully wearing the uniform of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission contrary to Section 79(1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
