LASEPA, UNIDO and Japan Deepen Cholera Prevention Campaign in Ikeja

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and with funding support from the Government of Japan, has intensified its statewide cholera prevention advocacy with a sensitisation and capacity-building programme in Ikeja Local Government Area. The initiative forms part of Project 240236, tagged “Emergency Capacity Building of Informal Food and Water Vendors and Waste Workers in Flood-Affected Lagos to Combat Cholera Outbreaks.”

The programme, which held at the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat, is designed to equip informal food handlers, water vendors, and waste workers with practical knowledge to prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases. The Ikeja session marked the ninth in a series of awareness campaigns previously conducted in Lagos Island, Alimosho, Ojo, Kosofe, Ikorodu, and Lagos Mainland.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, represented by Dr. Hassan Sanuth, stressed the importance of preventive awareness. He noted that Lagos recorded cholera outbreaks in 2024 resulting in loss of lives, which prompted the government to intensify public health education across local councils.

LASEPA General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, represented by Ms. Tolulope Adebowale, described cholera as preventable through awareness, sanitation, and collective responsibility. UNIDO Field Coordinator, Mr. Charles Uzoma, revealed that Lagos recorded over 1,600 suspected cholera cases by July 2024, underscoring the urgency of sustained interventions.

Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda, represented by Mr. Adeniyi Adeyi, commended the initiative, noting that environmental hygiene is vital for public health and business sustainability. The campaign has reached over 500 informal workers, reinforcing Lagos State’s commitment to a cholera-free environment.