Kirikiri Prison Battles Cholera Outbreak

A cholera outbreak has been reported at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos sparking concerns about the health and well-being of inmates and staff at the correctional facility.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, the number of infected sufferer of the pipe borne disease have increased to a total of 56 carrier in Lagos and 1,161 person in whole of Nigeria.

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Recall on June 26, 2024, the Nigerian Correctional Service disclosed that the custodial centres nationwide were free of cholera as a result of routine hygiene measures.

However, in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the commissioner reported “a small outbreak of 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis confirmed to be caused by cholera.”

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He said urgent medical and environmental measures had been implemented successfully.

Available data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed as of June 24, 2024, there were 1,528 suspected cholera cases, 65 confirmed cases and 53 deaths across 107 local government areas in 31 states, reflecting a case fatality rate of 3.5 per cent since the beginning of the year.