Amid the cholera outbreak in Lagos, the state’s commissioner for health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has warned residents to avoid unregulated and unregistered beverages.
As contained in a report by Vanguard, Abayomi issued this warning on Monday during a press briefing on the outbreak across the state.
In the briefing, Abayomi revealed that suspected cases of the disease have risen to 579 with confirmed cases hitting 43, while noting that the death toll has jumped to 29 because most of the patients came late to hospitals for treatment.
The commissioner noted that street beverages were common in the state and quoted many patients who talked about other forms of access to drinks, including sachet water, bottled water, and carbonated drinks.
He noted: “It is what a lot of people consume on their way to and from work or after school. So, it’s not surprising that a few of our suspected cases referred to the consumption of a beverage.”
According to him, liquid beverages are “produced in a batch. And once the batch is produced, it is distributed and consumed.”
He advised that since it is difficult to trace contaminated drinks, residents should “check the NAFDAC number of beverages” they buy, and avoid those not certified by the agency.
Going forward, Abayomi hinted at the government’s plan to introduce a Safe Plate and Safe Drinking Initiative to ensure the safety of food and drinks produced in the state.
The commissioner added that the state government, in partnership with stakeholders, has embarked on active case search and contact tracing to halt the spread of cholera.
He, therefore, urged residents with suspected cases to report to state-owned healthcare facilities as they offer free treatment for the disease.