In light of the recent cholera outbreak in Lagos State, which has resulted in fatalities and numerous hospitalizations, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), has called on residents to observe the highest standards of personal and domestic hygiene and to adopt proper waste management practices.

Speaking from his office in Ijora Olopa, Dr. Gbadegesin emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures to prevent the further spread of the disease. Cholera, a severe diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, spreads primarily through contaminated water and food, flourishing in unsanitary conditions.

“The outbreak of cholera in the state is a serious public health concern. It is necessary that every resident takes proactive procedures to prevent additional spread of the disease. Guaranteeing appropriate individual and domestic health, including efficient waste management, will go a long way in curbing the spread of the deadly disease,” Gbadegesin specified.

He outlined several precautionary measures for residents, including proper waste disposal, ensuring safe drinking water, frequent hand-washing with soap, practicing food safety, and using proper sanitation facilities. He also urged residents to avoid indiscriminate refuse dumping and to adopt the practice of bagging and disposing of their waste in covered bins to prevent disease spread by vectors and to facilitate seamless waste evacuation by assigned PSP operators.

Gbadegesin assured the public that LAWMA would continue to intensify efforts to manage waste promptly and efficiently across the state, with service providers working tirelessly to clean up black spots. He further appealed to residents to always clean their hands after managing waste, either while bagging or getting rid of it in covered bins, and to comply with the state federal government’s environmental and health safety policies by preventing careless waste discarding in drains pipes and road averages.

“We are fully committed to the health and safety of every Lagosian. Our groups are on the ground, ensuring that waste is correctly collected and gotten rid of to lessen health risks. Nevertheless, we require the cooperation of all locals to keep a clean and safe environment,” he worried.

The agency has long championed the importance of waste bagging and proper containerization through various programs and initiatives, reinforcing the critical role these practices play in safeguarding public health.