Cholera has taken more lives in Nigeria than the feared coronavirus epidemic, according to the (NCDC), particularly in 2021.
Ifedayo Adetifa, the director-general of the center, said the country has registered "a little more than 3,600" cholera deaths in the previous 11 months, while the total number of deaths from coronavirus has since the index case was documented in 20202 is still at 2,977.
Mr. Adetifa, who appeared on Channels Television's morning show "Sunrise Daily" to provide an update on the Omicron COVID-19 variant discovered in Nigeria, said the NCDC "has been working behind the scenes to mitigate the spread of cholera, as the public attention is more on COVID-19 than other diseases."
"Nobody knows that we have teams out in five, six states currently with strong cholera response," he added. Rapid response teams have been sent in all of the states where cholera outbreaks have occurred.
"Right now, we're preparing for the meningitis season; all of the refresher training and sensitization are in the works."
"So, while we'd like all of these other areas to have equal or even greater attention behind the scenes, we have no choice but to focus on all of the diseases that are likely to have a public health impact on the country based on the mandate we've been given."
Mr. Adetifa went on to note that cholera epidemics occurred in various states at different periods, with some states experiencing short outbreaks and others experiencing long outbreaks.
He also stated that rain has increased the danger of developing cholera in regions where open defecation is prevalent.
"We're dealing with some new breakouts; there's a link, for example, between this and the wet season." So when it rains and there are regions with open defecation, regular water sources are swamped and combined, and you have a problem," he explained.
He also urged state governments to invest in water and sanitation throughout the country.
COVID-19 and Cholera
Nigeria has 3,566 fatalities and 103,589 probable cholera cases as of November 21, 2021, according to the NCDC, with a Case Fatality Ratio of 3.4 percent in 32 states of the federation and the FCT.
According to the center, four states account for 55 percent of all cumulative cases: Bauchi (19,470 cases), Jigawa (13,293 cases), Kano (12,116 cases), and Zamfara (11.918 cases).
According to NCDC's most recent statistics on the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria's death toll from the disease has risen to 2,977, while the infection toll has risen to 214,218 on Tuesday, following the confirmation of 105 new cases.
