The Chief Executive Officer of Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, Dr Sania Nishtar on Thursday announced that the much anticipated cholera vaccines would arrive in Nigeria soon.
The Gavi CEO did not state the when it would arrive.
But in a hint about the vaccine’s arrival on her X handle, Nishtar’s said the vaccines would help curb the deadly and ongoing disease outbreak.
“Encouraged to learn that #Cholera vaccines from the #Gavi-funded global vaccine stockpile will soon arrive in Nigeria to help curb the country’s deadly and ongoing outbreak. We stand ready to work with our partners #UNICEF and #WHO to support Minister #muhammadpate, #Fmohnigeria, and #NCDCgov’s timely efforts to contain this outbreak and protect those at the highest risk.
“Despite the large number of cholera outbreaks this year, our stockpile is now fully replenished, and production continues at maximum capacity. We hope to keep supporting cholera-affected countries with their control plans. #stopcholera.”
A highly contagious disease, Nigeria had been ravaged by cholera in recent times.
In June’s deadly outbreak, Nishtar stated that the body was concerned about the rate in Nigeria, she promised to support the country , including requesting for emergency vaccine doses where needed.
As of July 15, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , NCDC, recorded 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The current outbreak has spread to 187 local government areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 per cent since the beginning of the year.
Responding to her post, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate thanked Gavi’s CEO for facilitating the vaccines.
Pate in a post on X said “Thanks #SaniaNishtar for facilitating our early access to
“Thanks also to President Tinubu #officialABAT for his astute leadership in setting up a multi-sector cabinet committee to support the Emergence Operations Centre led by #NCDCgov to work with our 36 states in a national response to the outbreak. We are seeing early signs of slowing down but we’ll not relent as the situation can reverse. So, the cholera vaccines strengthen our hands.”
