Kano State is once again in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Health officials have confirmed a fresh outbreak of cholera that has already claimed several lives, sparking widespread fear and urgent calls for intervention. Sadly, this is not a new story. For decades, cholera has been a recurring nightmare in Nigeria, an entirely preventable disease that continues to thrive because of weak public health systems, poor sanitation, and lack of political will.
Historically,
cholera has haunted Nigeria since the first major outbreak in 1970, shortly
after the civil war. That wave killed thousands across multiple states, and
subsequent outbreaks in 1991, 2010, and 2018 have left devastating tolls. The 2010 outbreak alone claimed over
1,500 lives, according to the Federal Ministry of Health,
making it one of the deadliest in Nigeria’s recent history. In 2021, UNICEF
reported over 100,000
suspected cholera cases with more than 3,000 deaths, affecting
especially children under five. Yet, despite these repeated warnings from
history, the nation remains dangerously unprepared.
The
underlying causes are painfully clear. In Kano, as in many northern states,
open defecation, contaminated water sources, and poor waste management remain
rampant. According to the National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 46 million Nigerians still
practice open defecation. Even in major cities, refuse piles line the streets,
drainage systems are clogged, and water supply is unreliable, forcing families
to rely on unsafe wells and rivers. It is little wonder that waterborne
diseases like cholera keep returning with vengeance.
Medical
response, though critical, is often reactive rather than preventive. Health
workers struggle with inadequate facilities, lack of rapid diagnostic kits, and
poor access to rural communities where cholera spreads fastest. International
aid agencies frequently step in with emergency supplies of oral rehydration
solution and antibiotics, but this is never enough. The cycle of outbreak,
panic, and temporary response has become a tragic norm.
Breaking
this cycle requires bold, sustained action. First, Nigeria must prioritize
water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure as a national emergency.
The Federal Government’s declaration to end open defecation by 2025 under the
“Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign is commendable, but progress has been
slow and uneven. States like Kano must invest heavily in boreholes, modern
sewage systems, and waste disposal facilities, while also enforcing sanitation
laws.
Second,
public health education is crucial. Communities need continuous awareness
campaigns about safe water practices, handwashing, and the dangers of open
defecation. Historical evidence shows that nations like Bangladesh, once
plagued by cholera, significantly reduced outbreaks through massive sanitation
reforms and grassroots education. Nigeria has no excuse not to follow suit.
Finally,
government accountability cannot be ignored. Corruption and mismanagement often
derail well-intentioned health projects. Funds allocated for sanitation
frequently disappear without impact on the ground. Unless leaders are held
responsible, Nigeria will keep burying its citizens from diseases that should
belong in the past.
Cholera
is not just a medical issue; it is a symptom of governance failure. Every
preventable death from this disease is an indictment of a system that neglects
the basics of human survival: clean water, proper sanitation, and functional
healthcare.
The
fresh outbreak in Kano should therefore serve as a wake-up call, not just to
local authorities, but to the entire nation. If Nigeria continues to treat
sanitation as an afterthought, cholera will remain a regular visitor, stealing
lives that should have been saved. But if leaders act decisively, investing in
infrastructure, enforcing hygiene policies, and prioritizing the health of
citizens, then this deadly cycle can finally be broken.
