The Lagos State Government has announced additional support from the World Health Organization (WHO) as it battles a cholera outbreak at the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison.
The outbreak, involving 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis caused by cholera, has prompted urgent medical and environmental interventions.
In a statement released on Sunday, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs, quoted Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, detailing the measures taken to control the outbreak.
“We were able to supply Kirikiri Medium Prison with intravenous fluids, infection prevention, and other health consumables,” Abayomi stated.
To bolster these efforts, the WHO has donated 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals, which have been delivered to the prison. These supplies are intended to support health facilities within the prison and implement prevention strategies for approximately 3,200 inmates if needed. Additionally, immediate water and sanitation issues at the prison have been addressed, and inspections of other correctional facilities in the state are ongoing.
The Lagos State Government also reported a significant decrease in daily cholera cases from the spike observed two weeks ago. However, the government acknowledged the presence of low-grade community transmission, as a few cases continue to present in hospitals across the state.
During the “One Health” inter-governmental agency strategic meeting held over the weekend, Abayomi provided further updates on the cholera outbreak. He noted that no new cholera-related deaths have been reported in the past 72 hours, and the government is intensifying efforts to eliminate transmission entirely.
“The reduction in new daily cases and the absence of new deaths indicate that our interventions are effective,” Abayomi said. He also emphasized the importance of residents adhering to public health information and safety measures, as well as seeking early medical attention when symptoms develop.
Addressing the origin of the outbreak, Abayomi disclosed that it has been traced to unregulated street beverages and a contaminated water supply. This discovery has led to a broader effort to improve water quality and regulate street food vendors to prevent future outbreaks.
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