Following the cholera epidemic in Lagos and other states, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged for comprehensive measures to safeguard schoolchildren.
The United Nations also urged coordinated measures to avoid disruptions to the academic calendar due to the disease’s spread.
Celine Lafoucrier, Chief of UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, made the plea in a statement on Monday, stating that the cholera epidemics had a significant impact on children and young people.
According to Lafoucriere, these vulnerable populations suffer significant health risks, notably children and young adults in school.
She observed that children were prone to severe dehydration and a high death rate.
“There is, therefore, urgent need for good sanitation, hygiene practices, improved access to clean water, regular handwashing with soap and clean water in order to combat the outbreak in schools,” she said.
Lafoucrier, on the other hand, called for more awareness throughout the country to educate the public about the cholera outbreak and preventative measures as part of efforts to address the problem.