Cholera : Borno communities appeal for improved WASH services to avert outbreaks
By Ahmed Ahmed
Communities vulnerable to cholera outbreaks in Borno State have called on the government, development partners, and humanitarian organizations to scale up Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions to prevent future outbreaks and improve public health.
The appeal was made on Thursday during separate interviews with journalists in Maiduguri by community leaders, residents, and humanitarian actors involved in recent cholera response efforts across affected communities.
Malam Aisami Abba, Village Head of Mashamari Ward in Jere Local Government Area, said the community was among the hardest hit during a cholera outbreak that occurred three months ago.
He noted that despite the outbreak being brought under control, poor access to water and sanitation facilities continues to expose residents to the risk of future infections.
According to him, Mashamari, with an estimated population of over 120,000 residents, including thousands of displaced persons from different parts of the state, faces increasing pressure on its limited infrastructure and social services.
He commended the Borno State Government, local authorities and humanitarian organizations for their timely interventions, particularly the provision of hygiene kits, sanitation facilities, community sensitization campaigns and hygiene promotion activities that helped curb the spread of the disease.
“We appreciate the support received during the outbreak, but more assistance is needed, especially in the areas of water supply, sanitation facilities, healthcare services and livelihoods support,” Abba said.
A resident of Dalori Gari community in Konduga Local Government Area, Bukar Lawan, described access to clean water and sanitation facilities as critical to protecting vulnerable families from cholera.
He recalled how his daughter survived the disease following timely referral and treatment during the intervention and urged partners to expand WASH programmes across high-risk communities.
The stakeholders unanimously stressed that sustained investment in safe water, sanitation infrastructure and hygiene education remains essential to preventing future cholera outbreaks and safeguarding public health across Borno State.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), Amb. Musa Umar, said the organization’s intervention, funded through Start Network and implemented alongside partners including CAFOD, International Alert, JDPC and VSO, focused on both health and WASH responses.
He explained that the project supported water trucking services, construction of community toilets, installation of emergency latrines, distribution of hygiene materials, infection prevention measures and community awareness campaigns.
Umar noted that community volunteers and referral focal persons have been trained to sustain cholera prevention efforts beyond the 45-day intervention period.