Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Health experts have called on residents of Rivers State to take proactive steps in preventing cholera outbreaks by adopting proper Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices, especially as the state has been identified as one of Nigeria’s cholera hotspots.
Speaking during a media chat hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr. Stella Smith, a director at the institute, emphasized the urgent need for access to safe and clean water across communities in Rivers.
“Cholera is caused by contaminated water or food, especially in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene,” Dr. Smith said. “Simple actions like washing hands with soap and water, cooking with clean utensils, and properly disposing of waste can save lives”
She stressed that every individual should have at least 20 litres of potable water daily, noting that poor access to clean water remains a key factor in the spread of cholera in Rivers and other high-risk states like Lagos, Kano, and Bauchi.
Dr. Smith also called on food vendors and households in Rivers to maintain strict hygiene, warning that over 420,000 people die globally each year from food-borne diseases, with over six million falling sick after eating contaminated food.
“If vendors and households improve hygiene, especially in food preparation and water storage, cholera cases can be drastically reduced,” she added.
Also lending his voice, Dr. Toyosi Raheem, head of the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department at NIMR, warned against open defecation, which he identified as a major source of water contamination in the nation.
“When faeces are deposited in the open, especially near rivers and streams, they eventually get washed into the same water sources people rely on for drinking and cooking,” he said.
He noted to sensitize residents on the dangers of open defecation and promote the use of proper toilets and sanitation systems.
“We need to engage stakeholders—food vendors, healthcare workers, and residents—to spread the message of good hygiene and sanitation,” he said.
A Community Responsibility
Residents are advised to:
- Always wash hands with soap and clean water, especially before eating or preparing food.
- Boil or treat water before drinking.
- Avoid open defecation; use toilets where available.
- Keep food and water containers covered and clean.
- Buy food from vendors who maintain proper hygiene.
With the rainy season approaching, experts warn that poor hygiene could trigger another outbreak if precautions are not taken.
“Rivers people must take ownership of their health. Cholera is preventable, and we all have a role to play,” Dr. Smith added.
