Agege LGA suspends school food vendors amid Cholera outbreak

In response to the recent cholera outbreak affecting various local government areas in Lagos State, the Agege Local Government Area has taken decisive action by suspending all school food vendors.

This measure aims to prevent the spread of the disease within the council’s jurisdiction.

Ganiyu Egunjobi, the chairman of the council, announced the suspension on Friday, emphasizing the council’s commitment to ensuring the safety of pupils and students.

Egunjobi stated,

“We have suspended all school food vendors to ensure the safety of the pupils and students.”

To combat the outbreak, the council has launched an extensive sensitization campaign. Egunjobi elaborated on the efforts made to educate market stakeholders and schools via radio broadcasts.

“We have informed both pupils and students on radio stations to bring their own food to ensure their safety from cholera. This development will allow us to detect and prevent outbreaks in our community,” he said.

The council has also undertaken inspections of schools to ensure that children are in good health and their environments are clean. In addition, market traders across various communities have been enlightened on the importance of maintaining environmental hygiene to prevent the disease.

Egunjobi noted,

“We are using various means, including landlord associations, to advise our people on ensuring hygiene in preparing food and drinks. We urge residents to familiarize themselves with precautionary measures against the deadly cholera outbreak.”

This proactive approach comes as the Lagos State government reports 350 suspected cholera cases, with 17 confirmed and 15 resulting in death. The outbreak has been recorded in 30 out of the 36 states in Nigeria, prompting urgent measures to curb its spread.

The Agege council’s swift response highlights the critical importance of hygiene and preventive measures in combating cholera, a disease that poses a significant threat to public health.