The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has expressed worry over the devastating effect of cholera in Nigeria, saying about 58,000 cases have been reported with 2,035 deaths in 24 states of the federation in two months.
WASH Manager of UNICEF, National Environmental Sanitation Response to Cholera in Nigeria, Michael Forson while speaking at a flag-off for noted that within the last two months there have been, on the average, 6,500 cases per week and of the cases, 49 are women and 26 children between five and 14 years and 15 per cent under five years.
He however, lamented that even at the level of infection over 46 million Nigerians still defecate in the open, noting that schools and health centres equally suffer from lack or inadequate toilet, safe water and hygiene facilities.
On his part, Minister of Environment Mohammad Abubakar expressed displeasure on the effect of cholera even after all the measures have been observed.
