The Cross River State Government and UNICEF are intensifying public awareness efforts to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, with a focus on cholera, Lassa fever and flood-related hazards. State health officials say recurring infections, sanitation challenges and cross-border exposure make community education and early reporting important components of prevention.
The Cross River State Government, working with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has intensified efforts to educate residents about disease prevention and flood-related health risks. A sensitisation meeting held in Calabar brought together participants from relevant sectors and communication backgrounds as part of UNICEF's awareness and communication drive.
Representing the Ministry of Information and Orientation, State Director of Information Mrs Rekpene Uket said the collaboration supports preventive healthcare and community education. She explained that awareness messages and information, education and communication materials were intended to reach residents through mass media and social media, as well as markets, schools, worship centres and hard-to-reach communities.
State Epidemiologist Dr Blessing Ekpenyong said the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system tracks 45 notifiable diseases. She identified cholera, Lassa fever, Mpox, measles and yellow fever among the recurring priority diseases in the state, noting that shared interstate boundaries and land crossings with Cameroon contribute to cross-border transmission risks.
Ekpenyong said suspected cholera cases are reported annually in almost all 18 local government areas. She listed Obubra, Abi, Biase, Odukpani, Obanliku, Ikom, Etung, Yakurr, Bakassi and Calabar Municipality as cholera hotspots, and linked some of the risks to open defecation and the use of water bodies for washing, bathing and defecation. She recalled that the state recorded 724 suspected and confirmed cholera cases, including deaths, in 2023. She also identified local government areas with recurring Lassa fever and Mpox concerns.
Residents were urged to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, avoid open defecation, keep food away from rodents, wash their hands regularly and report suspected cases promptly. Community leaders, traditional institutions and media organisations were also called upon to support the campaign. Resource persons from the University of Calabar presented final awareness scripts that were adopted for production and subsequent broadcast.