By Ali Tijjani Hassan
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by a germ called Vibrio Cholerae.
Vibrio Cholerae is a pathogen found in the mucosa of the large intestine, it developed by consuming contaminated food particularly water.
An individual infected by Cholera is likely to suffer from ruining stomach (Diarrhea) and vomiting.
Researchers of Public Health agreed that Cholera is a water-borne disease, and could kill its victims within hours if it’s not treated with care.
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The development or transmission of Cholera is always attributed to poverty, in which a person could not have access to clean and hygienic food or water. It also Defines how a country or a community is economically backward, through which the inhabitants of that society have no survival alternative!
An epidemiological report released by the National Center for Disease Control shows that 23 out of 36 states in Nigeria, with the North having the highest score are battling with Cholera outbreaks. The report shows that this endemic engulfed the life of about 812 persons statistically.
Possible Ways to tackle Cholera
Cholera is a multifaceted disease and can be treated with different techniques.
In the 19th century, a British physician, John Snow, discovered that: Soho community was experiencing the outbreak of Cholera that spread sporadically over London and killed about 616 people.
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John Snow who is regarded as Farther of epidemiology suggested some possible ways to get rid of the disease. He opined that; in order to do away with the disease, there is a need to avoid the use of contaminated water taken by the community and implement the intervention of road street pump in 1854.
John Snow discovered that there were three factors that played a vital role in spreading and causes of the diseases, these are; Agent, Environment, and Host. These factors played a better role in diseases causation and its communication, which is known as the epidemiological triad.
The agent is considered to be infectious microorganisms or pathogens, likely to be bacteria, viruses, parasites and microbes.
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The environment is a suitable atmosphere for the Agent to live independently.
Host despite the suitable Environment, Agents are in the “edges of life” they cannot develop unless it got a susceptible Host that can be a person or living organism.
Cholera patients in the early prompt are expected to be treated with drugs like Oral Rehydration Salt ORS, Tetracycline, Zinc and many anti-diarrheal complement. But if the patient takes about two to three days, it is expected to treat with intravenous fluid especially Metronidazole. But above all, we must assure the use of hygienic and sanitary water WASH.
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Careful surveillance, and Avoid contact with the infected Host, and avoid open defecation.
Why Covid-19 over Cholera?
It happened previously, in early 2020 when Nigeria witnessed the maiden outbreak of Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19), the Nigerian government gave needful attention and address the disease with preventive measures. But surprisingly, when it comes to Cholera, the story significantly makes difference! Both the government and even health personnel are taking the issues not as important as it is, despite the hundreds of lives that disease consuming every day.
When would Cholera be eradicated?
It’s in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mission to eradicate the transmission or communication of Cholera by 2030, through providing a borehole and street pumps to rural and urban areas, and ensure the availability of fresh water in every nook and cranny.
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May we all survived to see the eradication of this deadly disease.
Ali Tijjani Hassan is a student with the Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Bauchi State University Gadau. And can be reached: [email protected]
