Dr. Sania Nishtar, the Chief Executive Officer of Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), has announced that cholera vaccines will soon arrive in Nigeria to help combat the ongoing outbreak of the deadly disease.
Nishtar shared this news on her X handle on Thursday, highlighting the urgent need for these vaccines amidst the widespread cholera outbreak across the country.
“Encouraged to learn that #Cholera vaccines from the #Gavi-funded global vaccine stockpile will soon arrive in Nigeria to help curb the country’s deadly and ongoing outbreak. We stand ready to work with our partners #UNICEF and #WHO to support Minister #MuhammadPate, #FMOHNigeria, and #NCDCgov’s timely efforts to contain this outbreak and protect those at the highest risk,” Nishtar tweeted.
She also mentioned that despite numerous choleras outbreaks this year, the global vaccine stockpile is fully replenished, and production continues at maximum capacity. Gavi aims to support cholera-affected countries with their control plans.
Cholera, caused by the ingestion of Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food, remains a significant threat in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season, which exacerbates the situation through flooding and compromised water sources.
As of July 15, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the outbreak affecting 187 local government areas and a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 percent since the beginning of the year.
Reacting to Nishtar’s post, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, expressed gratitude for the timely facilitation of the vaccines. “Thanks #SaniaNishtar for facilitating our early access to #Gavi-funded #Cholera vaccines. We will deploy the vaccines efficiently and effectively in response to the ongoing outbreak,” he tweeted.
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Pate also thanked President Tinubu for his leadership in establishing a multi-sector cabinet committee to support the Emergency Operations Centre led by NCDC, working with all 36 states for a national response to the outbreak.
He noted that while early signs indicate a slowdown in the outbreak, continued vigilance is essential, and the arrival of the cholera vaccines will significantly strengthen the response efforts.
In addition to the vaccination campaign, the Federal Government is accelerating efforts to improve the water and sanitation situation in the country, aiming to address the root causes of cholera and prevent future outbreaks.
