In commemoration of the 2024 physicians’ week, the Nigerian Medical Association, Enugu State chapter has taken the cholera campaign to the various secondary schools within the Enugu metropolis.
Speaking to the students of The Wins School, the chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Enugu State branch, Dr. Ndiokwelu Chibuzo, a consultant paediatrician with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, stated that cholera is an infectious disease which could be contracted due to poor hygiene or dirty environment, including open defecation.
He said, “cholera is a disease caused by a bacteria called vibrio cholera.
“So, it’s a disease caused by a bacteria. And it is a disease transmitted through the mouth.
“When someone with cholera excretes faeces, someone else can contract it. That is how it is transmitted. It’s not like an airborne infection like catarrh or pneumonia.
“It is a gastrointestinal infection. Since it’s something you contract through your mouth, it is contracted through food, water and these are things that go into your mouth. It can be caused by poor sanitation, poor disposal of refuse”.
In an interview with Newsmen, Ndiokwelu stated that the essence of the physicians’ week was to give back to the community wherein the doctors lived and earned their living.
His words, “Today, we came here as part of our physicians’ week program. The idea is for us to give back to the community.
“After doing outreaches and visits to the orphanages, less privileged and the handicapped, including distribution of free drugs and some other items, today we are doing a school health program called ‘Storm The School Health Program’, where we deliver health talks, we talk about communicable diseases.
“Our focal point in this year’s health talk is centred on infectious diseases, including monkeypox.
“So, we chose cholera to discuss today with them because cholera is a known disease which has been ravaging the various states in Nigeria, including Enugu State within the past few months.
“We tend to cover as many schools as possible. The only handicap or challenge we have is that most schools within the metropolis are observing their mid term break.
“However, we have been able to do one private school today, tomorrow we will be at Command Day Secondary School.”
The NMA Chairman added that, “In this year’s physicians’ week, we are also discussing issues affecting us as doctors; how to improve ourselves vis a viz the economic realities.
“Our ability to stay in the country and deliver healthcare, with better conditions of service.”