A non-governmental organisation (NGO), WaterAid Nigeria, has donated dozens of cartons of water purification tablets, sanitation soaps and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) to communities in Ojodu LCDA in Lagos to support in the fight against cholera.
Mr David Odunmbaku, Chairman, Ojodu LCDA, represented by Pastor Segun Fayemi, CDC Chairman, appreciated WaterAid Nigeria for the gesture and other support especially building of public toilets in schools in the council area.
He assured that the materials would be distributed to all households in the LCDA through the various Community Development Area leadership, with a call on residents to always ensure cleanliness of their environment.
His words: “We remain grateful to WaterAid, this is not the first time they have come to support us, we will continue to say thank you and looking forward to their partnership with the communities. As regards distribution, all the CDA Chairmen will be summoned to come and take their portion for distribution to every household in their communities.”
Appreciating the gesture, the Ojodu LCDA Medical Officer of Health, Dr Sola Tanimoowo, who received the ORS on behalf of all Primary Health Centres in the council, said advocacy and sensitisation on sanitation and hygiene would continue to be their priority to prevent outbreak of communicable diseases at the grassroots.
Dr Tanimoowo, who advised residents to continue to practice regular hand washing with soap and clean water, urged anyone with vomiting and stooling to visit the nearest PHC for curative measures rather than self-medication.
“If you notice there is anybody coming down with watery stool or vomiting, please make sure you report that person to the nearest health centre. Cholera is not a disease that you can manage at home, you need a medical intervention because when the stooling and vomiting get serious, you need to admit that person and administer fluid directly so please let us be cautious and do what is needful,” Dr Tanimoowo advised.
Speaking on behalf of WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Ms Evelyn Mere, the Lagos office Head, Dr Adebayo Alao, appealed to the council authority not to hoard the products but distribute to the affected residents in good time due to prevent expiration of the products in stores.
According to him, “There is a reason for distributing these materials, they should not delay in getting it across to those that is meant for. We have some meant for the Primary Health Centres and we have those that should reach people at the community level, to make sure that the efficacy period is still maintained they should not delay in the distribution.”
Similar donations were made in Ikorodu North LCDA and Igando Ikotun LCDA, while over 36,000 households will benefit in the three LCDAs.
By Ajibola Adedoye
