Under-five children at risk, says UNICEF

• Published On: 16 June 2024 at 07:58

The United Nations Children's Fund has indicated that children under the age of five are especially prone to severe dehydration and greater fatality rates during cholera outbreaks.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Celine Lafoucrier, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, addressing the challenges of cholera outbreaks necessitates a deliberate focus of state policies to provide high-quality water and sanitation facilities, as well as strengthened healthcare systems capable of meeting demand during outbreaks.

She went on to say that the state should lead educational programmes on cholera prevention to protect children and the general community.

"Recurrent cholera outbreaks have a severe impact on children and the general population. These disadvantaged groups face significant health risks, particularly children under the age of five, who are more likely to suffer from severe dehydration and die younger.

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"Educational disruption is yet another major consequence of cholera outbreaks, since illness and the need to care for sick family members cause school closures and low attendance, impeding children's learning and development.

Similarly, post-recovery concerns in children can include malnutrition, stunted growth, and compromised immune systems, which increases vulnerability to various diseases," she explained.

Lafoucrier recommended that sustainable WASH infrastructure, strengthened health systems capable of forecasting epidemics, and effective community involvement initiatives be implemented to limit transmission.

Lafoucrier defined WASH infrastructure as improving water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, performing quick surveillance, fostering social mobilisation, giving treatment, and using oral cholera vaccinations.

"Ultimately, preventing cholera relies on proper sanitation and hygiene standards. Key efforts include proper faeces disposal, the elimination of open defecation, and guaranteeing access to drinkable water. Regular handwashing with clean, flowing water and soap is essential.

"Also, to reduce the risk of cholera infection, avoid eating uncooked vegetables, unwashed fruits, raw or undercooked seafood, and food from street vendors," she warned.

She said that expanding access to safe drinking water, boosting sanitation and hygiene, and improving water management may avoid about one-tenth of the world's disease load.

While discussing how disease outbreaks may effect Nigeria's progress towards SDG three, Lafoucrier stated, "Disease outbreaks eventually impede Nigeria's progress towards health-related Sustainable Development Goals. These epidemics put a pressure on Nigeria's health system, diverting scarce resources away from critical services such as routine immunisations, maternity and child care, and weakening universal health coverage.

She disclosed that good water and sanitation facilities had an important part in preventing disease epidemics like cholera, which kills an estimated 100,000 people each year.