Cholera Outbreak: LWC assures safe, potable water to residents

Cholera Outbreak: LWC assures safe, potable water to residents 

Water

By Henry Oladele

Lagos, June 22, 2024 (NAN) Amid the cholera outbreak in the state, Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), on Saturday, assured residents of safe and potable water, advising everyone to maintain good hygiene.

The corporation’s Executive Director, Operations, Mr Helen Omolanke, gave the assurance while sensitising residents at the Baruwa Community Engagement Forum in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the community forum  was organised by LWC to sensitise residents about safe and World Health Organisation’s standard public water.

NAN also reports that the forum was in line with the Lagos State Government’s policy to ensure access to safe drinking water.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had reported an outbreak of the water-borne disease in 30 states of the federation and urged state governments to prioritise actions that ensure access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation and proper hygiene practices.

The centre, in an advisory released to the public, healthcare workers and state governments on mitigating the spread of the disease, reported a total of 1,141 suspected cases of cholera, with 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 96 local government areas in 30 states from Jan. 1 to June 11.

The NCDC highlighted that 10 states—Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos—account for 90 per cent of the cholera burden in the country.

The centre explained that cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, ingested through contaminated water and food.

Water contamination usually results from the faeces of infected individuals, occurring during water collection, transportation or storage at home.

Food can also be contaminated by unclean hands during preparation or consumption, it added.

At-risk populations, the centre said, include those with limited access to clean water, poor sanitation and hygiene, consumers of potentially contaminated food or fruits without proper washing and cooking, and healthcare workers providing direct patient care without standard precautions.

The centre noted that symptoms of cholera include acute, profuse, painless watery diarrhoea (rice water stools), sudden onset vomiting, and may be accompanied by nausea and fever.

Severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration from massive fluid loss.

However, NCDC stressed that most infected individuals (about 80%) may show mild symptoms or be asymptomatic.

NCDC cautioned that the best prevention against cholera include ensuring access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation and waste disposal and adopting appropriate hygiene practices, including regular handwashing.

The water corporation  director, therefore, told residents at the Baruwa Community Engagement Forum that “LWC is the most safe water. We have tested the boreholes and other sachet waters in the time past and we have seen that  LWC is the best.

“It is reliable. it takes away sickness and you won’t have cholera from drinking LWC water.

“There is cholera in the country, so we are encouraging everyone to tap into this opportunity and get connected to LWC, because it is potable.”

She added that LWC has a mini water works at Abesan Estate, adding that Baruwa community should take ownership of the water.

She explained that “the essence of this gathering is to sensitise the community to take ownership of this mini water works because the facility was built from tax payers’ money.

“The people should own it and see to its sustainability, more so to also encourage them to pay their bills.”

She added that water from the boreholes in the community is not potable as that from LWC, which has been treated and processed to the standard of the World Health Organisation.

The Baale of Baruwa Community, Chief Aludu Baruwa, appreciated the LWC for providing potable water to residents and beyond.

While urging LWC not to charge high water rate so people can afford to pay, Baruwa said “I implore everyone to pay water dues because this water is always treated.”

The Chairman, Baruwa Water Corporation, Pa James Oyewole, appreciated the gesture by LWC, saying it is a laudable project.

“This is a long awaited ceremony, we have been involved in water pollution for about 28 years.

“The underground of the whole Baruwa is already polluted so we can’t get good water.

“We want to thank LWC for coming to our rescue and we assure that we will pay our dues to ensure sustainability.”

The representative from the Lagos Water Regulatory Commission, Mr Idowu Olowu, said “the water payment by residents is just a token, as governtment is subsidising it.”

One of the residents, Mr Abiodun Adigun, expressed delight over the potable water introduced to the community, assuring LWC that he will pay charges apportioned to him.

Another resident, Mrs Basirat Komolafe, a business woman, said it was a long awaited prayer that got answered, adding that residents are ready to cooperate with LWC. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

HOB/HA 

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu