Dr Ibrahim Kabir, an environmentalist and former Director-General of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), has warned of a potential cholera outbreak as the rainy season intensifies in Bauchi.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Kabir urged residents to adopt stringent hygiene and environmental safety measures to avert an outbreak.
He attributed cholera’s spread to poor sanitation and the consumption of contaminated food and water.
“Cholera is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water, largely a result of poor sanitation,” he said, cautioning that even seemingly clean food or water could harbour harmful bacteria if hygiene is compromised.
Kabir explained that pathogens can spread through air, water, animals, and footwear, with open defecation in rural areas lacking proper toilet facilities posing a significant risk.
“When rain falls, fecal waste from open areas often washes into drinking water sources or food zones. This is how cholera spreads rapidly,” he said.
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To prevent contamination, he recommended constructing toilets at least 10–15 metres from wells or boreholes, warning, “People don’t realise that their neighbour’s poor waste system can pollute their own water.”
He advised residents to consult urban planning authorities before building homes to ensure proper layouts and compliance with environmental safety standards.
While chlorination of water is beneficial, Kabir stressed it must be paired with consistent hygiene practices, including regular handwashing, proper food covering, and safe waste disposal.
Kabir called on community leaders, health officials, and the media to intensify public awareness campaigns, emphasising, “Health and cleanliness go hand-in-hand. Prevention is cheaper than cure.”