The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is to submit a cholera vaccination request to the International Coordinating Group (ICG) and the Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC).

This was disclosed by the Director-General of NCDC, Dr Chike Ihekweazu, during an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja. Noting that the centre will also submit the request to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Since 2013, the ICG for Cholera manages the global stockpile of oral cholera vaccine which was created as an additional tool to help control cholera epidemics.

It works closely with vaccine producers, through WHO and UNICEF, and following disease trends.

Ihekweazu noted with concern that deaths arising from Cholera had risen to 1,768 as at Aug 15.

He said that 47,603 suspected cases had also been reported from 23 states since the beginning of 2021.

Ihekweazu said the centre will soon conduct training on cholera surveillance, hot spot mapping and development of state-level preparedness and response plans ahead of subsequent cases.

Ihekweazu said the centre has recorded challenges in accessing some communities with the needed interventions due to security issues, highlighting that open defecation in communities had also been a major contributor.

The NCDC boss highlighted the lack of potable water in the rural communities, inadequate manpower for cholera outbreak as well as an insufficient vaccine to go round the affected local government areas had been attributed as challenges being encountered in the cause of responding to the outbreak.

To reduce the risk of cholera, the NCDC said people must ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and safe container before drinking.

The centre also advises good personal hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap under clean running water, among others.

One of the lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly has pleaded for proactive efforts to be taken in fighting drug abuse in Nigeria.

Sanni Okanlawon warned that if this trend is not urgently addressed it would cause adverse effect on the socio-economy progress of the country.

Okanlawon who is represents Kosofe Constituency 1 made this call during the 7th Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ meeting which held simultaneously in the 40 Constituencies of the Lagos State House of Assembly was themed “Increasing Wave of Drug Abuse: A Threat to nation Building”.

Okanlawon reiterated efforts of the Lagos State House of Assembly to control the menace of the substance abuse with viable legislations.

Several laws and resolutions have been initiated by the House to prevent drug abuse among youths and enabled more useful to themselves and to the society.

Okanlawon promised that there were some bills ahead in the House expected to better the life of the youth.

Represntative of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Ngozi Okocha, in her lecture, warned that the trend of the drug abuse should be timely addressed as the effect is becoming a threat to the society.

Mrs. Okocha described the issue to be too problematic to the socio-economy as facilities are overwhelmed with drug related criminals. She stated that facilities such as prisons and courts are overwhelmed with too many drug related cases. And this is seriously posing a threat to security and health.

She advised that community should be of assistance to drug victims, as provisions are made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for rehabilitation of such victims.