NIGERIA RECEIVES 600,000 CHOLERA VACCINES TO CONTAIN OUTBREAKS

Wed 09 October 2024:

Nigeria received 600,000 additional doses of cholera vaccine Tuesday to contain an outbreak of the infectious disease in northeastern Borno State caused by devasting floods.

UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria Rownak Khan said the vaccine and other medical items were part of a global response to halt the spread of cholera, a waterborne disease which hit the state weeks after massive flooding damaged sanitary facilities and water supply.

“This oral cholera vaccine was a joint effort between the government and the partners. UNICEF is one of the partners. We also have other partners who also put a lot of effort to bring the cholera vaccine to Nigeria,” Khan told Anadolu in the state capital Maiduguri after handing over the items to the government.

The donation also included acute water diarrhea kits and hospital beds worth $69,000, she added.

Last month, UNICEF delivered the first 300,000 doses of cholera vaccine to the state, starting massive vaccination in the area.

Abubakar Hassan, special adviser to the Borno State governor on Health, said the state is yet to record any cholera-related deaths days after the outbreak of the disease was reported.

Authorities said 451 suspected cases of cholera were recorded in Borno on Oct. 4, with 128 cases testing positive after a rapid diagnostic process.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

Cholera has a long history in Nigeria, with outbreaks occurring as far back as the 1970s. The country’s vulnerability is tied to poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

One of the worst outbreaks was in 1991, when over 7,500 people died. Since then, cholera has reoccurred almost every year, particularly during the rainy season when water sources become contaminated. In 2010, another major outbreak claimed over 1,500 lives, affecting many northern states. More recently, in 2021, Nigeria experienced one of its deadliest outbreaks in decades, with more than 3,600 deaths and tens of thousands of cases reported across 31 states.

Efforts to control cholera in Nigeria include vaccination campaigns, improved water sanitation projects, and public health education, though challenges remain due to overcrowded living conditions and limited access to healthcare in many regions.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

______________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22