Enugu govt. tasks citizens to maintain environmental hygiene to avert outbreak of cholera

From Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu

Enugu State government led by governor Peter Mbah has called on the residents of the state to maintain a high level of hand, food and environmental hygiene to avert the outbreak of cholera.

The Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary health care development agency, Ifeyinwa Ani- Oshekwu made this call during a media chat in Enugu.

She urged the citizens of the state to observe the call of keeping their environment clean to avert the outbreak of cholera pandemic that is currently ravaging some parts of the country.

The Executive Secretary in summary described cholera as a disease of poor hygiene which have stayed over the years and has led to so many deaths.

According to her, “Cholera is caused by a bacterium known as fibria choleric. It has two major variant, 01 variant and 0139 variant, both are highly contagious.

“You can get it from water that is contaminated, food that is not well prepared or from poor hygiene l sanitation and environment.

“Cholera has seasonal Spike and its seasonal period is during the rainy season. At certain times of the year, we tend to witness a higher occurrence especially during the rainy season.

“People get infected through different ways, once an individual get infected with the bacterium, they continue to excrete it in their feces, especially in areas where we have poor sanitation.

“People can explore open defecation, they can use the farm land or environment that is so poor. When the rain fall, it has an ability to wash this infected waste into water sources, especially those that probably use the stream”.

“People can get infected via this contaminated water or food that has been contaminated with this organisms.

When you use the restroom and did not wash your hands, it can be spread from person to person and that is what leads to the epidermic.

“The primary spread of cholera is through fico oral means, either through contaminated finger, water or food that is not well cooked” she said.

She further advised the citizens to play safe by drinking boil water gotten from open contaminated sources for 10 minutes, adding that citizens should ensure that their food are well cooked.

The executive secretary noted further that the people of the state should practice good hand care, by washing their hands before cooking, serving food, eating food and after using the bathroom.

She also urged the citizens to ensure that their utensils, vegetables are washed with water and salt, and as well ensure that their environments.are kept clean always.