The World Health Organisation has described the cholera outbreak in the country in 2021 as the highest in recent times.
According to the Organisation, Nigeria recorded over 100,000 suspected cases of cholera in 2021.
According to World Health Organisation Country Representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, at a training on oral cholera vaccine said there is the need to improve coordination of cholera control efforts and ensure clean and safe water as well as improved hygienic practices to contain the disease.
He said the agency had proved to be effective in the development of National Control Plans, which included vaccination and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activities.
World Health Organisation is mindful of the support by different partners and donors for the responses.
These include reactive vaccination with more than 1.7 million persons vaccinated with two doses each of Oral Cholera Vaccination in Bauchi, Jigawa, Yobe, and Zamfara states.
We believe that the recently approved GTFCC application for Nigeria will significantly mitigate the risk of an upsurge of cholera cases during this rainy season.
“The application covers approximately nine million doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine to implement two campaigns in 14 local government areas in nine states and the FCT.
Mulombo challenged Nigeria to seize all opportunities for vaccination in specific target areas with zero doses and ensure that often-missed children were offered OCV and all routine vaccinations, adding that this was necessary for the country to meet the global target of ending cholera by 2030.