By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
Nigeria’s response to the ongoing cholera outbreak has received a major boost, following the donation of vital cholera treatment kits funded by the Government of Japan and delivered through the World Health Organisation.
WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, while speaking during the handing over ceremony at the NCDC headquarters in Abuja, said the donation is a lifeline for communities at risk, especially as the country continues to record new cases across all 36 states and the FCT. Over 22,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths have been reported this year.
Dr Ursu said the donation is part of a larger US$500,000 grant which has already trained 176 health professionals across the country and strengthened community-level surveillance.
The organisation urged communities to maintain preventive measures such as handwashing, safe water use, and good sanitation to reduce the spread of cholera.
Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Suzuki Hideo, said his country remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s health security and progress towards universal health coverage.
Mr Hideo said Japan is proud to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat cholera and other infectious diseases. “Through our partnership with WHO, we are contributing to stronger and more resilient health systems.”
NCDC Director General, Dr Olajide Idris, thanked the Government of Japan for what he called “timely support”, noting that the supplies will help strengthen surveillance, diagnosis, and case management nationwide.
Dr Idris said the donation has enabled NCDC to improve laboratory diagnosis, scale up state-level response, and ultimately reduce cholera deaths, adding that It reinforces the commission’s determination to protect Nigerians from preventable diseases
The donation includes one complete central cholera kit, divided into 29 modules of medicines, renewable supplies, equipment, and logistics materials. It is part of 14 cholera kits procured through the Japan grant. Each kit is designed to treat 100 cholera patients, including moderate and severe cases, during the crucial early phase of an outbreak.
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