President Bola Tinubu has initiated a committee to oversee the emergency operations center, led by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), in response to the cholera outbreak in Nigeria.
This development was announced by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
Pate revealed that the President has directed the formation of a cabinet committee to supervise the activities of the emergency operations center and ensure adequate resource allocation, in collaboration with state governments.
“The President directed that a cabinet committee be set up to oversee what the emergency operations center led by NCDC is doing and for the resources to be provided, complemented by the state government,” Pate stated.
The minister emphasized that the council aims to curb the spread of cholera infections and reduce the mortality rate nationwide. He highlighted that addressing cholera requires a multisectoral approach, with the new committee supporting state government efforts to mitigate open defecation.
The committee will include members from various ministries, including Health, Finance, Water Resources, Environment, Youth, Aviation, and Education.
According to Pate, Nigeria has recorded 1,528 cholera cases and 53 deaths across 31 states so far. He stressed the importance of the emergency operations center, which was activated by the NCDC on Monday, in managing the outbreak.
“At the moment, about 31 states have recorded 1,528 cases and 53 deaths in Nigeria; that is what we are working on through the emergency operations center that NCDC activated on Monday,” Pate explained.
He noted the global context of the outbreak, mentioning the 7th pandemic of cholera, which has been ongoing for decades. “In 2022, the world had almost 500,000 cases of cholera, so it is not only peculiar to Nigeria. In 2023, almost 700,000 cases of cholera were reported by the World Health Organization. More than 200,000 cases have occurred this year in five world regions,” he added.
Pate outlined the multisectoral approach being taken, involving technical partners, various ministries, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to contain the outbreak. Resources have been deployed to 21 states to aid in their response efforts.
“We are improving awareness of the population, handwashing, hygiene, and sanitation, in addition to treatment with drugs and intravenous fluids,” Pate concluded.
