Toxicologist attributes causes of cholera to poor sanitation

By George George Idowu

An Environmental Toxicologist and Public Health Expert, Dr. Chimere May Ohajinwa has said cholera is a disease that usually caused by poor sanitation.

The Toxicologist stressed the need to strictly adhere to personal and environmental hygiene in order to curb the prevalence of cholera across the country particularly at the grassroots.

Ohajinwa gave the hint last week while addressing gathering of people during an outreach sensitization program at Gwarinpa Village, Abuja.

The outreach took place at the Chief’s Palace in the village with the theme: “Is Your Environment Making You Sick? Stop Cholera.”

During the awareness creation program sponsored by, a non- governmental organization (NGO), C-Circle Research amongst other stakeholders, Ohajinwa addressed the gathering on the definition of cholera, causes and symptoms.

She taught the people simple prevention practices to stop the spread of cholera disease adding that once they start experiencing any of the symptoms listed, they visit the nearest medical facilities.

That aside, Ohajinwa explained that the major reason why the outbreak is still reoccurring in Nigeria is because of poor sanitation practice, lack of knowledge on how cholera spread and health tips.

She listed some of the causes of cholerawhich include drinking of unsafe water, preparing foods with contaminated water such as local drinks such as tigernut or zobo drink, open defecation from an infected person, and contaminated faeces which are washed into the water system that people drink from or for domestic uses amongst other things.

She stressed the need to strictly adhere to personal and environmental hygiene in order to curb the prevalence of cholera in the community.

The Toxicologist recalled the first case of the cholera epidemic in Nigeria in 1972, which she explained has resulted in several other cholera outbreaks in different communities in the country.

Dr. Ohajinwa listed several instances where Nigeria had high cases of cholera outbreaks.

She started with the first ever case of 1991 thereafter and went to 2010, which resulted in 3,000 cases and 781 deaths that year, according to her.

She made reference to the 2024 cases also when she mentioned the Lagos State government announcement of the cholera outbreak. which, according to her, has spread to several parts of the country.

On the part of the other collaborator, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), who had a representative from the Assistant Chief Environmental Health Officer (AEPB), Mrs Omenta Racheal, said that the responsibility of AEPB is to keep Abuja clean.

She said Cholera is a deadly disease that requires urgent health attention to curb the scourge.

Rachel lauded the C-Circle Research and C-Circle Foundation for Sustainable Health and Environment for their doggedness in their sensitization outreach and for not leaving issues concerning environmental health for government alone.

Also reacting the Representative of the Chief and the Chairman of the Community, Mr. Mohammed Haruna, commended the organization for the laudable initiative, stating that this is a welcome development.

The community leader noted that the awareness on causes of cholera will help them to strictly adhere to maintaining proper hygiene in order to prevent the disease in their community.