By Bertram Nwannekanma
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday urged informal food/water vendors and waste managers to act as hygiene ambassadors within their communities.
This, he said, should be done through sensitising residents about cholera prevention while advocating improved sanitation infrastructure and policy enforcement.
The governor spoke through the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, during the inauguration ceremony and meeting of the UNIDO – LASEPA Project.
It was titled “Emergency Capacity Building of the Informal Food/Water Vendors and Waste Workers in Flood-Affected Areas of Lagos to Combat Cholera Outbreaks” and held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said that in Nigeria, cholera remains a recurrent health crisis, with outbreaks occurring almost yearly, adding that the situation reflects broader global challenges such as climate change, displacement due to conflicts, and rapid urbanisation without adequate infrastructure development.
The governor recalled that in 2021 alone, Nigeria recorded over 100,000 suspected cholera cases and more than 3,500 deaths across 32 states, stressing that it is a stark reminder of the urgency required to address the issue.
He noted that Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, primarily spread through contaminated water/food, and poses a severe threat to global health.
According to him, it is common in regions with inadequate sanitation, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to clean water.
He said this initiative was a timely and critical intervention aimed at strengthening the emergency capacity of informal food and water vendors, as well as waste workers, in flood-affected areas of the state.
According to him, these individuals are frontline providers of essential services, yet they remain disproportionately vulnerable to cholera outbreaks due to their constant exposure to contaminated environments.
He added that the initiative would also align with broader urban planning efforts by advocating improved sanitation infrastructure across the state, which includes drainage system upgrades to mitigate future flooding risks.
“As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that combating cholera is not just a government responsibility—it requires the active involvement of every stakeholder here today: policymakers; community leaders; private sector representatives; NGOs; international organisations; informal vendors; waste workers; and citizens alike,” he declared.
