The Lagos State Government has reported a concerning outbreak of cholera at Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, with 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis confirmed.
In response to this health crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped in, donating 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals to support prevention strategies for the prison’s approximately 3,200 inmates.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, stated that urgent medical and environmental intervention measures have been implemented with success.
The state government has supplied the prison with intravenous fluids, infection prevention materials, and other health consumables.
While the situation at Kirikiri Prison is being addressed, the state government also announced a significant improvement in daily cholera cases across Lagos from the spike reported two weeks ago. However, there is evidence of ongoing low-grade community transmission, with a few cases still presenting to hospitals across the state.
The source of the original outbreak has been traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supply.
In response, the government is enforcing stricter regulations on local beverage manufacturers and implementing widespread sanitation activities. The commissioner emphasized the need for continued vigilance and adherence to public health precautionary measures to combat the spread of cholera effectively.
