Cholera Outbreaks Now Seasonal Public Health Challenge, Ehanire

The Minister made this known at the WHO training on the integration of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) in emergency and preventative contexts on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, “I am delighted to welcome you all to Nigeria for this important training, aimed to integrate oral cholera vaccination into the emergency and preventive measures of our country.

“I commend the World Health Organisation (WHO) for this laudable and desirable initiative, a tool for prevention and control of cholera outbreaks, which has for some time now, become a recurrent seasonal public health challenge in many Low and lower-middle-income countries, like ours, despite efforts at control.

“I, therefore, welcome this training as a prelude to equitable access to this vaccine and another step towards our goal of better health for all. I believe it will strengthen our health system by reducing or even removing one more public health nuisance by vaccination.

“I implore all participants to make the best use of this opportunity and put in their best in the one-week training to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to use the vaccine to eliminate cholera as a recurrent health problem.

“I conclude by again welcoming you all and appreciating the effort of the World Health Organisation in keeping us safe. All of you, especially those who are visiting Nigeria for the first time, can take the time and opportunity to also enjoy the sights and sounds of Abuja”, he stressed.

Also, the Director-General, Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa reiterated the need for the early allocation and shipment of these vaccines to ensure these vaccinations and carries out sooner than later.

Represented by the NCDC Deputy, Director of Surveillance, Mr Yenan Sebastian said Nigeria has just degraded its biggest Cholera outbreak which commenced in 2021 with over 100,000 suspected cases reported. We are mindful of the support by different partners/donors through WHO for the response, including reactive vaccination with over 1.7 million persons vaccinated each with 2 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccination(OCV) across 7 LGAs in 4 states of Bauchi, Jigawa, Yobe and Zamfara.

Working in line with the preparedness for future campaigns, we believe that the recently approved GTFCC application for Nigeria with approximately 9million doses of OCV to implement two campaigns in 14 LGAs in 9 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, would significantly mitigate the risk of and upsurge of cholera cases during this raining season.