Ogun State is grappling with a cholera outbreak, claiming at least 12 lives and affecting over 200 individuals. Investigating the source of the epidemic, Hassan Abu explores how open defecation and inadequate waste management along the Ogun River may have triggered the crisis.
In the Sabo area of Abeokuta North, Ogun State, 35-year-old Chidinma Okoro, still mourning her youngest child’s cholera-related death last year, symbolizes the devastating impact of the recurrent epidemic in the state.
Okoro recounts the heartbreaking experience of her son’s illness, shedding light on the broader issue plaguing various communities.
The current outbreak, announced by the state government on September 17, 2023, originated in the Ijebu North Local Government Area before spreading to Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, attributes the outbreak to open defecation, poor waste management, and inadequate access to clean water, revealing the state’s vulnerability to cholera due to its sanitation infrastructure.
Abeokuta, the state capital, has been a recurring hotspot for cholera outbreaks in recent years.
Investigations reveal that a lack of clean water, functional toilets, and proper waste management systems contribute to the prevalence and rapid spread of cholera.
In areas such as Sabo, Abule Otun, Fowosedo, and others, residents engage in open defecation due to the absence of toilet facilities, exacerbating the risk of contamination.
The investigation further exposes the disposal of feces into open water channels, which eventually reaches the Ogun River, a crucial water source for many residents.
Community leaders acknowledge the issue, citing challenges such as poverty, inherited properties without toilets, and rocky terrains hindering toilet construction.
The chairman of the Ifekowajo Community Development Association in Abule Otun, Jimoh Balogun, emphasizes the need for government intervention in building toilets and raising awareness about the dangers of open defecation.
Residents in areas like Ago-Ika, Ikereku, Ijofa, and Totoro cite the high cost of constructing toilets due to rocky terrains, forcing them to resort to open defecation.
This behavior significantly contributes to the spread of cholera, as confirmed by experts highlighting the link between open defecation and water-borne diseases.
Access to clean water is a pressing concern, with many residents relying on open water sources like wells, streams, and ponds contaminated with bacteria.
The lack of clean water exacerbates the health risks associated with the cholera outbreak.
Poor waste management, including indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads and in drainages, compounds the problem.
The 2014 study in the journal ‘Environmental Health Perspectives’ emphasizes the correlation between improper waste disposal and the incidence of cholera, particularly in informal settlements.
Medical experts warn that the cholera outbreak in Ogun State is rooted in a combination of open defecation, poor waste management, and contaminated water supplies.
Without addressing these fundamental issues, the experts predict the continuation and worsening of the outbreak.
While the government takes steps to curb the spread, local government officials, like Adebayo Ayorinde, chairman of Abeokuta North LG, stress the importance of sensitization, awareness creation, and plans to build toilets in public places and schools.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, threatens drastic measures, including sealing houses and prosecuting offenders, to enforce proper sanitation practices.
The unfolding crisis underscores the urgent need for comprehensive interventions addressing open defecation, waste management, and access to clean water to mitigate the cholera outbreak in Ogun State.
