Cholera
By Oluwaseyi Oduneye-Ogunwomoju
Ibadan, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State Chapter, on Thursday visited some food markets in Ibadan to sensitise vendors on Cholera and how to prevent its spread.
NAWOJ Chairperson in the state, Omolola Alamu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the association needed to collaborate with the state government to check the outbreak.
“NAWOJ is campaigning against the spread of cholera because we don’t want the people of Oyo State to contract cholera and, thereby, spread it in the state,” she said
Alamu said the association went around to educate food vendors on the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene.
“We need a clean environment; we must ensure that food cooked for public consumption is done in a good environment and with clean water,” she said.
According to the chairperson, proactive steps are needed to ensure Ibadan residents are aware of cholera, going by the town’s proximity to Lagos, a state with high records of victims.
“There’s a need for urgent and proactive steps to ensure that everyone is aware of cholera; knowing what to do and what not to do.
“We picked food markets because many of the citizens buy cooked food to eat daily, and this is one of the fastest ways to contract cholera.
“We are educating food vendors to ensure that what they are selling is made with clean water and in a healthy environment,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dupe Fehintola, Chairperson, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) Chapel, said it was pivotal to educate the public on preventive measures against cholera.
According to her, “Prevention is better than cure.”
Fehintola said she was surprised that some of the market men and women were not aware of the cholera outbreak in the nation.
“We met people eating under unhygienic conditions, but we educated them.
“We saw children picking things on the ground, but parents are ignorant that at this period in time, one needs to be very careful.
“We, however, encouraged the children to constantly wash their hands with soap and water after playing around,” she said.
She added that at the Okirika market, two women said they had taken it upon themselves for a while now to educate their colleagues on the importance of proper hygiene.
“The market men and women are now getting more informed about cholera as we furnished them with more information in a one-on-one talk,” she said.
NAN reports that food markets at Aleshinloye, Dugbe and Oke-Ado were visited. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
SEY/MAS
Edited by Moses Solanke
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