Nigeria receives $500,000 kits donation from Japan for cholera treatment
Nigeria receives $500,000 kits donation from Japan for cholera treatment
Nigeria has received cholera response kits worth $500,000 from the Government of Japan to strengthen national preparedness and boost rapid outbreak response, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) facilitating procurement and delivery to high-risk states across the country.
The WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, described the contribution as a direct and lifesaving intervention.
“This partnership is saving lives. The cholera kits and training have enhanced Nigeria’s readiness to respond to outbreaks. WHO remains committed to supporting the country in reducing cholera-related deaths to below one per cent.”
Dr Ursu said the support funded by Japan was already improving surveillance, diagnostics and case management nationwide.
According to him, “The supplies are now being deployed to high-risk areas to support the timely detection and effective management of cholera cases.”
Also speaking, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Suzuki Hideo, said the donation reflects Japan’s “unwavering solidarity” with the Nigerian people. “This ceremony symbolizes Japan’s unwavering solidarity with the people and Government of Nigeria in their fight against cholera. Today’s handover demonstrates Japan’s practical commitment to saving lives, strengthening health systems, and promoting community resilience.”
Hideo stressed that cholera remains a serious threat in Nigeria. “Nigeria continues to face recurrent cholera outbreaks, with 9,929 cases and 235 deaths reported across 36 states and the FCT by September this year,” he said. He added that Japan’s support aims “to detect cases early, contain their spread, and protect the lives of those most at risk.”
He also highlighted Japan’s broader investments in the health sector, noting, “Together, these three projects represent a total contribution of 1.725 million US dollars from the Government of Japan, demonstrating our strong, continuous commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to protect public health and save lives.”
Drawing from Japan’s history, the ambassador recalled how early hygiene and isolation practices once saved thousands during a deadly cholera outbreak in the 1850s. “This Japanese experience reminds us that it must be entirely possible to bring cholera mortality to zero,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, expressed deep appreciation to Japan and WHO for the intervention.
“Today’s ceremony is much more than a handover of commodities; it is an affirmation of partnership, an investment in public health security, and a renewal of our shared commitment to protecting the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
He explained that the donated commodities included cholera central and periphery kits, Oral Rehydration Point (ORP) kits, infection prevention and control materials, sanitation hardware, diagnostic tools and logistics support. “These resources will significantly enhance our capacity for treatment, early detection, and rapid response to outbreaks,” he said.
Dr. Idris warned that persistent challenges such as unsafe water, population displacement, weak surveillance and rising antibiotic resistance continue to fuel outbreaks.
“Our challenges are being compounded by the cholera germ rapidly acquiring resistance to antibiotics,” he said, citing over-prescription, self-medication and poor infection control practices as contributing factors.
Still, he highlighted progress. “Nigeria has made measurable progress and improvements in diagnostics, coordination, vaccine investment, and a reduction in case fatality rates from 3.3% to 2.3%. The identification of 134 Priority Areas for Multisectoral Intervention (PAMI), he added, has strengthened hotspot response.
He assured that NCDC would ensure accountability in using the donated items. “Ending cholera is not only a public health target, it is a moral imperative. We will ensure transparency, accountability, and impact in the utilisation of every item received today.”
Earlier, the Federal Government expressed gratitude to the people of Japan, describing the support as timely and critical. The cholera kits, procured through WHO, include central and peripheral modules designed to treat 100 patients per kit during the early phase of an outbreak. Each kit contains oral rehydration salts, medicines, IPC supplies, equipment and logistics devices.
Japan’s support also funded a national Training of Trainers (ToT) programme that equipped 176 trainers across all six geopolitical zones, whose knowledge is now being cascaded to frontline health workers in the 134 highest-risk LGAs.
As Nigeria battles 22,196 suspected cases and 505 deaths so far in 2025, officials emphasised that sustained partnerships, strong surveillance and improved community engagement remain essential to keeping communities safe.
“Today’s partnership strengthens our courage. It moves Nigeria one step closer to a future where cholera no longer threatens the health or dignity of our people,” he said.
