The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, Gavi, has announced that cholera vaccines will soon be delivered to Nigeria to help combat the ongoing outbreak.
The federal government had placed an emergency order for the supply of vaccines in June, in the wake of the cholera outbreak ravaging the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, Dr Sania Nishtar, disclosed that cholera vaccines would arrive in Nigeria soon.
Nishtar tweeted, “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.
“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. #stopcholera.”
Cholera is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which affects the small intestine and causes a diarrhea illness. It is typically spread through contaminated food or water, poor sanitation and hygiene and direct contact with an infected person’s feces
Cholera symptoms include: diarrhea (often watery and pale), vomiting, rapid dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and shock (in severe cases)
The latest update from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as of July 15 indicates that Nigeria has recorded 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The current outbreak has spread to 187 local government areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 per cent since the beginning of the year.
While responding to the development, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate expressed gratitude to Gavi’s CEO for facilitating the vaccines.
