Cholera vaccines will soon arrive in Nigeria, says Gavi

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) says cholera vaccines will soon arrive in Nigeria.

Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food.

Nigeria is currently battling an outbreak of cholera. So far, 3,623 suspected cases and 103 deaths have been recorded in 34 states.

In June, Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), said Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, had entered into discussions with Gavi over the supply of cholera vaccines to the country.

In a statement on X, Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer (CEO) of Gavi, said cholera vaccines will soon arrive in Nigeria to help curb the ongoing outbreak.

“We stand ready to work with our partners, UNICEF and WHO, to support Minister Muhammad Pate, Nigeria’s federal ministry of health, and the NCDC’s timely efforts to contain this outbreak and protect those at highest risk,” the statement reads.

“Despite the large number of cholera outbreaks this year, our stockpile is now fully replenished, and production continues at maximum capacity.

“We hope to keep supporting cholera-affected countries with their control plans.”

Responding to the statement on X, the minister of health thanked Nishtar for facilitating Nigeria’s “early access” to the vaccines.

He assured that the vaccines would be deployed “efficiently and effectively” in response to the ongoing outbreak.

“Thanks also to President Tinubu for his astute leadership in setting up a multi-sector cabinet committee to support the Emergence Operations Center led by NCDCgov to work with our 36 states in a national response to the outbreak,” Pate wrote.

“We are seeing early signs of slowing down, but we’ll not relent as the situation can reverse. So, the cholera vaccines strengthen our hands.

“We are also accelerating efforts to improve the situation of water and sanitation in short and medium terms, through my colleagues in the Ministries of Water Resources and Environment, as well as subnational governments, the private sector, and civil society.

“Thanks to @UNICEF_Nigeria for their technical support and advocacy.”