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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
A paediatric gastroenterologist with the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ekong Udoh, has disclosed that cholera remains endemic in Nigeria as it claimed 4364 lives between 2021 and 2024.
He disclosed this in Calabar during a media roundtable organised by Cochrane Nigeria to update information on cholera.
Dr. Udoh, in his overview said: “The disease is endemic in Nigeria and the outbreak occurs periodically.
“There were 4809 suspected cases and 156 deaths in 2024 and between 2021 and 2024, there have been 140, 000 suspected cases and 4364 deaths.”
He said prevention and control measures required a multi sectoral approach, including epidemic preparedness, improved access to water and sanitation. He also explained that political will was required to end the menace of cholera as people should not die in the 21st century for diseases that are completely preventable.
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In his presentation, titled, “Frequent Cholera Epidemics, can vaccines help?” Dr. Ekpereonne Esu, the head of public health in the University of Calabar, discussed recent findings on oral vaccines for preventing cholera. He said findings, which includes five trials conducted with 462,754 participants in Peru, India and Bangladesh, indicate certain medications like Dukoral, Shanchol can be effective.
He also said participants found that oral cholera vaccines made with killed bacteria were easy to use and safe with similar side effects reported by all groups.
He added that no trials were found on other BivWC vaccines, such as Euvichol or Euvichol-plus.
However, all BivWC vaccines are equal in their ability to kill cholera bacteria.
In her opening remarks, Professor Angela Oyo Ita, from the University of Calabar, said Cochrane is a nongovernmental organisation poised to develop and share information on evidence in healthcare to ensure better decisions are made.
She added they strive to produce systematic reviews that summarise the best available evidence generated through research.
