•WHO trains responders for emergency
Nigeria recorded 7,339 cases of cholera in one month across 31 states, according to the current data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO’s Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, said as of November 2, 2022, 18,093 suspected cholera cases of cholera had been reported in 256 local government areas (LGAs) of 31 states with case fatality ratio of 2.6 per cent.
Also, going by the epidemiological data from the NCDC, as of October 2, 2022, since the beginning of the year, a total of 10,754 suspected cholera cases were reported from 245 LGAs and 31 states.
The Nation investigation revealed that in one month (between October 2 and November 2, 2022), the country recorded 7,339 cholera cases.
To ensure prompt and professional response to public health emergencies across the country, including the flooding ravaging states in Nigeria, the WHO, in collaboration with the Federal Government, is training at least 350 Nigerian Core Responders who will be ready for deployment within the first 24 hours of an emergency.
Speaking during the training of the emergency response team, called the AVoHC-SURGE Team (African Health Volunteers Corps-Strengthening and Utilising Response Groups for Emergencies) on Monday in Abuja, Dr. Mulombo said: “As of November 2, 2022, 18,093 suspected cholera cases have been reported in 256 LGAs of 31 states (CFR 2.6 per cent). About 41 per cent decrease in the number of new suspected cholera cases was observed, compared to the previous two weeks where 3,990 suspected cases were recorded.
“Currently, the flooding situation has become overwhelming with 3,219,780 affected persons; 1,427,370 displaced persons; 2,776 injured; 612 deaths; 305,407 houses damaged; 176,852 hectares of partially damaged farmlands and 392,399 completely flooded damaged farmlands in 35 states as of October 24, 2022.
“The ability to deliver an early and effective response requires government and institutions to be prepared collaboratively for new outbreaks. They must be ready to respond nationally, sub-nationally and locally, before an attack becomes an epidemic or pandemic.
“WHO aims to train and prepare a workforce that can be called upon when needed – drawn not only from the WHO but mainly from the states, civil society, and volunteers. The purpose of the SURGE is to provide surge support to countries that must rapidly mitigate crises through the SURGE members’ training.”
“WHO aims to achieve workforce development to ensure the availability of trained human resources at the national and sub-national levels. The SURGE training will integrate and strengthen existing human resources for emergency response (PHEOCs, RRTs, EMTs) and further enhance the governments’ leadership.”