The Nigeria National Centers for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued a warning that the country is facing a shortage of vaccines to combat cholera. This comes as the disease has already claimed the lives of 30 individuals from the start of the year up until the middle of the month. Despite this, NCDC director-general Jide Idris has requested a new shipment of vaccines from international donors, but no delivery date has been set yet.
According to reports, at least 4,364 individuals have died from cholera in Nigeria since 2021, with nearly 140,000 suspected cases. As of Thursday, there were 1,141 suspected cases of cholera reported by the health agency, with 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths recorded across thirty states in Nigeria.
Lagos State has been hit particularly hard by this outbreak, with 24 confirmed deaths and 35 confirmed cases reported since January. The State Commissioner for Health shared this information on his Instagram account.
Idris highlighted the lack of funds for vaccine acquisition as a significant issue in addressing cholera outbreaks. Vaccines are obtained from donors but do not provide lifelong immunity. Therefore, a combination of control measures is necessary to prevent the spread of this disease.
The NCDC director-general stressed the importance of personal hygiene in preventing cholera outbreaks. He urged individuals to stay hydrated and ensure that water sources used for consumption are properly purified to prevent further spread of this disease.
In conclusion, it is crucial that Nigeria takes proactive measures to address its vaccine shortage and prevent future cholera outbreaks. The government must work towards improving its healthcare infrastructure and securing adequate funding for vaccine procurement and control measures to safeguard its citizens’ health and wellbeing.
