The Ogun State government has sealed a pure water-producing company over the current Cholera outbreaks in some rural communities in the state.
The closure followed a report detailing how the recent cholera outbreak was able to spread fast within some Ogun communities, killing and leaving many seriously ill.
PUNCH Healthwise gathered that the company was shut after it was allegedly discovered to be the main source of some contaminated sachet water sold in several communities located in the Ago Iwoye and Ijebu Ode areas.
The state government had on September 17, 2023, alerted residents to the outbreak of Cholera in the Ijebu North Local Government Area, disclosing that three deaths had been recorded.
The disease later spread to Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South LGs in the state capital.The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, while giving an update on Thursday in Abeokuta, confirmed that there were 12 fatalities out of about 236 cases recorded so far.
The outbreak was blamed on open defecation, poor waste management, and inadequate access to clean water.
As soon as the outbreak was announced by the state government, PUNCH Healthwise toured the affected communities and in a special report published on Sunday, October 22, detailed how open defecation and poor waste management, especially in Abeokuta, the state capital, triggered the epidemic.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, the state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya confirmed the sealing of the pure water company, adding that another one would be sealed next Monday.
He said the government is considering the prosecution of those erring manufacturers if the legal department deemed it necessary.
He added that the government would need the revalidation of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, to investigate the integrity of the companies’ water sources before they would be allowed to continue operation.
The commissioner also revealed that a fresh ultimatum has been given to residential houses in the affected areas to construct toilet facilities to avoid having their houses sealed off the government.
He said, “Curbing open defecation is a multidimensional issue that needs diverse approaches to solve the problem.
“Some of the efforts so far include public enlightenment and awareness campaigns in targeted communities where the practice is prevalent, especially in indigenous communities and with transient residents.
“We have also commenced the construction of 400 public toilets around the state. We have constructed about 25 so far in conjunction with the private investors.
“All eateries and petrol stations have been informed of the imperative for strict adherence to the conditional operation license they have, which compels them to provide access to public convenience in their outlets.
“Residential houses have been given a fresh ultimatum, while we have sealed off outlets of water manufacturers, who are the primary sources circulating the contaminated pure water in Ago Iwoye and Ijebu Ode environment.
“Monitoring and enforcement is a continuous exercise when it comes to protection of the environment. That’s in line with our social contract with the residents of the state and it remains our priority for now.”
