Ogun State is currently facing a cholera outbreak, resulting in the death of a 62-year-old woman who contracted the disease from her son. As of now, there are 14 reported cholera cases across four local government areas: Obafemi Owode, Ado-Odo/Ota, Abeokuta South, and Ijebu North. Five people, including the son of the deceased woman, have been hospitalized.
The state government, led by Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, have urged residents to remain calm and maintain good hygiene practices. They emphasized the importance of avoiding drinking water from unknown sources and being vigilant about cholera symptoms, advising the public to report any suspected cases to the state’s disease surveillance team.
Cholera’s prevalence highlights the link between the disease and poverty, particularly the lack of access to safe water and sanitation. In Ogun State, poverty levels are notably high, with seven out of ten residents being multidimensionally poor, according to data from StatiSense. This underscores the broader socio-economic challenges contributing to the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Lagos State is also grappling with a cholera outbreak, recording 401 cases and 21 deaths. The situation in both states underscores the urgent need for improved public health infrastructure and poverty alleviation efforts to prevent such outbreaks.