ABUJA – The Federal Government has received a final shipment of cholera response kits from Japan, channeled through the World Health Organization (WHO), as the country continues to combat a severe outbreak that has affected 22,196 people and claimed 505 lives as of November 2, 2025.
The donation, funded by a US$500,000 grant from the Japanese government, was formally handed over to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Monday. The supplies are being deployed to high-risk states, particularly in the heavily affected North-East and North-West regions, to bolster early detection, treatment, and containment efforts.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Olajide Idris, described the support as timely. “This support from the Government of Japan through WHO came at a critical time. It has enabled us to strengthen surveillance, improve laboratory diagnosis, and support states in responding more effectively to outbreaks,” he stated.
The assistance has been distributed across three key areas since the grant was received on March 1, 2025:
· Emergency Supplies: US$104,951 worth of cholera kits—each capable of treating 100 patients—have been prepositioned in high-risk areas to prevent treatment disruptions during peak transmission periods.
· Capacity Building: A national training program has equipped 176 health experts across all six geopolitical zones, with knowledge cascaded to workers in 134 priority intervention areas.
· Surveillance Enhancement: Community-based surveillance has been strengthened in local government areas across seven high-risk states, improving coordination between national and sub-national health authorities.
Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Suzuki Hideo, reaffirmed his country’s commitment: “Japan is proud to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat cholera and other infectious diseases. Through our partnership with WHO, we are contributing to stronger health systems.”
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, emphasized that the partnership is already yielding results, enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to respond to outbreaks and reduce cholera-related fatalities to below one percent.
With cholera cases continuing to rise, health authorities have urged states and communities to intensify preventive measures, including promoting hand hygiene, ensuring safe water use, and improving sanitation.
