The Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government in Lagos State, Wasiu Adesina, has directed the council’s Environment Department to set aside two days for cholera sensitisation to curtail spread.

He gave the directive during the weekly management meeting with heads of departments on Wednesday.

He said the department should set aside Tuesdays and Thursdays of every week for sensitisation “and go to markets, abattoirs, every nook and cranny of Ikorodu Central to enlighten the people about cholera and its prevention.”

Mr Adesina also urged residents to ensure that their source of water is safe and the environment is clean.

The chairman listed some of the preventive measures to include ensuring safe drinking water by boiling or chlorinating the water, maintaining proper sanitation, and safe disposal of faeces.

He added that other measures are to stop open defecation, practice personal hygiene by washing hands with soap regularly, ensure food safety by covering food against flies and to thoroughly wash fruits before consumption.

The Health Education and Promotion Board, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, recently inaugurated a standing committee on sensitisation of cholera in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a statement on June 11, warned that the state had recorded many cases of severe gastroenteritis.

Mr Abayomi disclosed that cases of severe gastroenteritis were reported from communities around Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.

He noted that the outbreak resulted in 60 hospital admissions and five deaths, mainly from patients presenting late with extreme dehydration.

(NAN)