The Federal Government on Monday said 74 persons had been confirmed dead in the current outbreak of cholera in some parts of the country.
It also said that a total of 373 persons had fallen victim of the disease so far.
To check the rampant cases of cholera, the government advised that citizens should stop open defecation while state and local governments should ensure the provision of toilets and ventilated pit latrines.
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said this during the 2013 Physicians Week, which held in Abuja under the theme: Federalism and Nigeria's Healthcare system-An appraisal of the Primary and Secondary healthcare systems.
Chukwu said the government had been working with the states affected by the cholera outbreak in terms of ensuring that the correct treatments were given to affected persons.
He said, "My role as the Minister of Health is limited; as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will continue to advocate that every sector keys into what each sector should do and individuals should preach to every Nigerian to do proper things in terms of sanitation.
"As at yesterday (Sunday), 373 Nigerians have been recorded to have suffered cholera in this current outbreak out of which we have lost 74. We still got a report just yesterday (Sunday) that few of the cases can do with antibiotic.
"Each Nigerian must commit to certain things; can we stop going into the bush to defecate; open defecation is not neglected but every Nigerian must know that it is unhealthy. Even market people are paying N5:00 to use toilets in the market place and that is what they do outside this country."
According to Chukwu, what was important is that Nigerians must do everything to stop open defecation and have access to clean water.
He said, "Another thing is water supply which is a multi-state and multi-sectoral issue. The federal, state and local governments are involved in water supply and we must continue to insist that every Nigerian should have access to clean and potable water.
"In the hands of individuals, it is all about personal hygiene. What now leads to the rapid transmission of cholera is lack of personal hygiene, like people not washing hands after defecating; even after urinating please wash your hands.
"Also wash your hands before eating as you might have had a handshake with people and remember that certain things you eat raw like carrot and other fruits should be properly washed. These basic things will ensure that we no longer have cholera in Nigeria."
Some states in Nigeria were said to have come under the spell of cholera epidemic with Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara and Lagos states recording the highest figure.
Zamfara State was said to have recorded 1,117 cases with official confirmation of some deaths in two weeks.
The medical teams managing the cholera outbreak in the state said Gusau, the state capital, recorded the highest number of cholera cases, followed by Zurmi, Maradun and Bakura council areas.
Some fresh cases were also said to have been recorded in the Shagari Primary Health Care Centre and other affected places.
President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, expressed concern over the rising increase in sudden deaths in the country, particularly amongst the productive male and female age-groups.
He asked the citizens to always disregard any linkage of such deaths with witchcraft, superstitions or religious beliefs.
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