Organisation plans campaign on cholera

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

Following the outbreak of Cholera that has claimed about 15 lives, the Nguvu Collective, has announced plans to embark on a sensitisation campaign and a clean-up exercise.

This was communicated by Nguvu Change Leader, Jenny Akatu, yesterday in Abuja. She maintained that community leaders and policymakers should educate the people on proper waste disposal.

Akatu said it was regrettable that people die yearly as a result of environmental negligence, and noted that little or nothing had been done to stop the spread of cholera.

She said: “The recent cholera outbreak is a recurring issue. Whenever it rains, cholera is always on the rise. It is so because it is an easier time for this bacteria to spread. It is carried by water. This is also the time when the humidity supports the growth of bacteria.

“Cholera is on the rise because there is improper sanitation, it is one major factor that communities and states are dealing with.

“Eradication of cholera stems from the fact that improper waste disposal should be tackled from the community. Also, individuals should be held responsible for improper waste disposal.

“People should not just dump things in the drainage when it rains, litter the environment, excrete and urinate in places.

“So, tackling this issue will start from the ground level which is the communities. Then, we will take it to the upper level which is the organisations that have been elected and designated to deal with these things.

“We have the waste management society and so on. Nguvu as an organisation stands to raise awareness on cholera outbreak so that people will know that it is not just a fairy tale; it is happening. It is taking lives.

“The next thing we will do is to solicit for help and support communities affected by cholera.

“In terms of funds and resources, the organisation is committed to doing its part.”

“So far, in Nigeria, we have people on ground that we call our foot shoulders who raise campaigns and talk to people in power and rally for support and call for help. We will organise clean up parties in areas where our attention is drawn, and where we find the need for the clean up to take place.”