The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday tasked the federal government with establishing real-time measures that will help in curbing the spread of cholera among schoolchildren across the country, News About Nigeria reports.
The UN organisation said this following the outbreak of cholera in Lagos and some states in the country.
The call for extensive measures to protect schoolchildren was made by the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, in a statement released by UNICEF today (Monday).
In the statement, Lafoucrier also called for concerted efforts to prevent disruption in the academic calendar over the spread of the disease.
Lafoucrier further explained that the measures are essential because cholera outbreaks critically affect more children and the young population.
She also noted that these vulnerable groups face substantial health risks, particularly children and young adults attending school, adding to the fact that they are more susceptible to severe dehydration and higher mortality rates than other groups.
The statement partly reads, “There is, therefore, an urgent need for good sanitation, hygiene practices, improved access to clean water, and regular handwashing with soap and clean water in order to combat the outbreak in schools.”
She also called for adequate awareness across the country to sensitise the populace on cholera outbreaks and preventive measures as part of efforts to address the issue.
The UN further tasked the Nigerian government with ensuring that even those in rural areas are well-sensitised on how to avoid the spread of the deadly disease among them.
