The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and supported by the Government of Japan, has launched a new initiative to prevent cholera outbreaks in flood-prone areas of the state.
The project, titled “Emergency Capacity Building of Informal Food and Water Vendors and Waste Workers in Flood-Affected Lagos to Combat Cholera Outbreaks,” is funded through a grant of approximately $275,000.
At a sensitisation programme held on Wednesday in Lagos, LASEPA’s General Manager, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, said informal food and water vendors, along with waste workers, play vital roles in the state’s public health ecosystem.
“Their activities impact public health, environmental sustainability, and the overall well-being of Lagosians,” Ajayi said. “The Government of Japan and UNIDO have supported this initiative to strengthen the capacity of informal food and water vendors in flood-prone areas of Lagos State.”
Given Lagos’ vulnerability to flooding, Ajayi noted that poor waste management, contaminated water supplies, and informal food distribution networks significantly heighten the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera.
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According to him, the grant will be used to “train informal food and water vendors as well as waste-workers in hygiene, sanitation and safe handling practices.” He added that funds would also support the provision of hygiene materials, awareness campaigns, and improved collaboration between government agencies and waste-management actors.
“It will also help strengthen monitoring systems in flood-affected, high-risk local government areas,” he said. “Together, we can ensure a safer, healthier, and more prosperous environment for us and future generations.”
UNIDO Project Assistant, Wunako Elam, described the initiative as a timely and practical intervention, noting that it not only addresses the aftermath of last year’s cholera outbreak but also enhances preparedness for future health and environmental challenges.
