The Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, EHOAN, Osun State chapter, has called on residents of the state to adopt preventive measures against the current wave of cholera in some states in the country.
The association also urged residents to report to the nearest healthcare facility any suspected case.
DAILY POST had reported cholera outbreaks in Lagos, Ondo and some states in the country.
They made this call in a statement issued on Tuesday by the State President and Secretary, Sanitarian Ola Sunday Olufemi and Sanitarian Akinola Raphael Olutayo.
EHOAN in the statement, said, “We are intensifying efforts to prevent outbreaks of the disease and we encourage residents to demonstrate their unalloyed support to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s led administration in Osun by strict adherence to precautionary measures, cooperating with Environmental Health Officers, and always participating in community-wide sanitation activities to prevent outbreaks of cholera.
“Yes, it is true that there is a cholera outbreak in some parts of the country, with several deaths and hospitalisations reported. That is why we are calling on the entire residents of Osun to reduce the risk of cholera infection, as we recommended to every citizen of the state to drink clean and safe water, avoid food from street vendors, improperly washed fruits and raw vegetables, improperly cooked food, particularly sea foods, ensure proper disposal of waste, regular hand washing with soap and running water, cook food thoroughly, avoid close contact with people suffering from diarrhea, report suspected cases promptly, and avoid open defecation while houses without toilet/ latrine should provide it as a matter of responsibility and law as important parts of the preventive measures.”
They assured that environmental health officers will continue to move around the state to sensitise the people in order to avert the epidemic.
They also called for collaboration with the state government to create a hygienic environment, adding that Governor Adeleke had recently declared zero tolerance for a dirty environment in Osun.
“We call on the Baba Loja and Iya Loja of the markets across the state to sensitise the market traders and union chairmen at motor and motorcycle parks to do the same to support the government in averting the cholera outbreak in the state.
“We also enjoin religious leaders and schools in the state to comply with the measures put in place by the government,” the statement added.
Cholera: Environmental health officers urge Osun residents to take preventive measures
