By Aderogba George
The Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI), an NGO, has called for urgent action to protect the street children from contracting cholera.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 33 states in the country have reported cases of the water-borne disease.
The initiative made the call in a statement issued by its Programme Officer, Mrs Khadijat Shuahib, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Shuahib said data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) paints a troubling picture about the disease.
According to Shuahib, NCDC has reported 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cholera cases, resulting in 37 deaths, between Jan. 1 and June 11, 2024.
She said the outbreak with Lagos as the epicenter, poses a significant threat, particularly to Nigeria’s most vulnerable population which has over 10 million street-connected youths, also known as Almajiris.
“These children face an elevated risk due to their living conditions. Often overcrowded and lacking basic sanitation and clean water, these environments create a breeding ground for cholera and other waterborne diseases.
“Studies by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that a single unchecked case of cholera can potentially infect two secondary cases. This exponential growth rate can be even more severe in these high-risk settings.
“The current situation necessitates immediate and comprehensive action. The Nigerian government must implement a plan to protect children and prevent a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
“This plan should address both the immediate threat and the root causes pushing children onto the streets. Firstly, the government must prioritise children in public health initiatives’’, Shuahib said.
According to her, Almajiri children who are also known as street-connected youth need to be integrated into government healthcare programmes and cholera response plans.
“Culturally sensitive outreach campaigns should be developed to educate them about cholera prevention, proper hygiene practices, and access to clean water and sanitation facilities,” she said.
She also pushed for targeted deployment of mobile medical clinics as crucial to curtail the spread of cholera, adding that high-risk areas should be prioritised, with well-staffed mobile clinics.
Shuahib said that trained healthcare professionals providing essential medical care and cholera treatment to vulnerable children residing in areas with limited access to healthcare facilities should be prioritised.
She also said that long-term solutions are essential to address the root causes of children living on the streets.
(NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA)