Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), has announced that cholera vaccines will soon arrive in Nigeria to help combat the ongoing outbreak.
In a tweet on Thursday, Nishtar expressed encouragement over the development, stating that Gavi is ready to work with partners UNICEF and WHO to support the Nigerian government’s efforts to contain the outbreak.
As of July 15, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The outbreak has spread to 187 Local Government Areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8% since the beginning of the year.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that males account for 52% of cases, while females account for the rest, with the predominant age affected being five years old. However, there has been a 5.6% decline in cases in the past week.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, thanked Gavi for facilitating the vaccines and assured that they will be deployed efficiently and effectively. He also acknowledged President Tinubu’s leadership in setting up a multi-sector committee to support the national response to the outbreak.
The Federal Government is accelerating efforts to improve water and sanitation in the country. Three WHO-prequalified oral cholera vaccines are available, requiring two doses for full protection.
