Nigeria’s response to cholera outbreaks has received a major boost following the official handover of lifesaving cholera kits of US$500,000 grant funded by the Government of Japan and delivered through the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), expressed deep appreciation to Japan for the timely support, which is strengthening preparedness and response efforts across high-risk states.
The newly delivered cholera kits procured by WHO are already being deployed to states with ongoing outbreaks to improve case detection, treatment, and overall emergency response. According to NCDC, the continued support is critical as Nigeria battles rising cases across multiple regions.
Since the grant was received on 1 March 2025, the intervention has significantly enhanced national capacity to prevent, detect, and manage cholera outbreaks. This includes the procurement of US$104,951 worth of essential supplies; the training of 176 national trainers whose expertise is now being cascaded to frontline health workers across the 134 Priority Areas for Multisectoral Interventions (PAMIs); and strengthened surveillance systems—particularly in seven high-risk states—through community-based surveillance training.
Nigeria remains heavily affected by cholera, recording 22,196 suspected cases and 505 deaths as of 2 November 2025. The North-West and North-East continue to bear the highest burden, highlighting the urgent need for sustained vigilance and strengthened public health systems.
NCDC Director General, Dr Olajide Idris, said the support from Japan came at a crucial time, enhancing surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and state-level response capacity. Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Suzuki Hideo, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting stronger health systems and progress toward Universal Health Coverage. WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, noted that the intervention is already saving lives and improving Nigeria’s outbreak readiness.
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The donated cholera kits, comprising 29 modules of medicines, supplies, equipment, and logistics tools, are designed to support the treatment of 100 patients per kit during the early weeks of an outbreak. Additional commodities—including Oral Rehydration Solutions—were procured to further bolster treatment capacity nationwide.
WHO urged state governments, health workers, and communities to intensify preventive measures such as hand hygiene, safe water use, and proper sanitation. The organisation reaffirmed the shared commitment of Nigeria, Japan, and WHO to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen national health security.
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