WHO, Japan donate $500,000 in cholera response commodities towards health – FG
The WHO Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu; the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, and the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, at the handover ceremony. Credit: Lara Adejoro
The Government of Japan, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, donated $500,000 in commodities, equipment, training, surveillance tools, and emergency preparedness support to strengthen Nigeria’s Cholera response.
As part of this support, life-saving commodities valued at $104,951 were delivered to the Federal Government through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Abuja.
These resources are intended to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to outbreaks, helping to reduce illness and save lives.
Cholera remains a serious public health challenge in Nigeria.
This year alone, the outbreak has affected all 36 states and FCT, with states in the northeast and northwest among the hardest hit.
According to WHO, Nigeria recorded 234 cholera deaths and 9,738 cases between January 1 and August 31, with a Case Fatality Rate of 2.4 per cent.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on Monday in Abuja, the WHO Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, said the donation came at a critical time as cholera transmission risks remain high in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation.
Ursu stated, “I would like to thank the Government and People of Japan for their generous support. The $500,000 Japan grant, domiciled at the WHO, has catalyzed health interventions that not only help the health of vulnerable Nigerians but also support the government’s strategic aim of strengthening health systems to prevent, prepare for, early detect, and respond effectively to emergencies.
“This contribution is not just a shipment of supplies; it is a lifeline for communities at risk and a reaffirmation of Japan’s longstanding commitment to global health security and humanitarian assistance.
“Japan has consistently demonstrated leadership in supporting global health initiatives, including in Nigeria.
“From strengthening emergency preparedness to advancing universal health coverage, Japan’s contributions have helped build resilient health systems and protect vulnerable populations.
“The commodities donated today – one complete cholera kit (Central) divided into 29 modules – for medicines, renewable supplies, equipment, and logistics devices are intended to treat patients at different levels within the healthcare system during an outbreak in areas with compromised access.
“The kit donated today is one of the 14 cholera kits, alongside medical commodities such as life-saving Oral Rehydration Solutions, which have been procured through the Government of Japan grant.
“Each central and periphery kit is designed to support the treatment of 100 cholera cases (with varying ratios of severe versus moderate cases) during the first weeks of a response, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to respond quickly and effectively to outbreaks. They will assist health workers in managing cases, reducing mortality, and preventing further spread.”
He noted that the supplies will be deployed strategically to hotspots identified through surveillance and risk mapping.
He said WHO will continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the NCDC, and partners to enhance surveillance, improve case management, and support preventive measures.
“Our joint efforts include training health workers, strengthening laboratory capacity, and promoting community engagement for safe hygiene practices. But we cannot do this alone.
“The fight against cholera requires a whole-of-society approach—government leadership, partner support, and community participation.
“Today’s handover is a reminder that global health security depends on solidarity. We call on all partners to continue investing in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, and to support the scale-up of oral cholera vaccines in high-risk areas.
“Ending cholera is possible. With sustained commitment, we can achieve the global roadmap to reduce cholera deaths by 90 per cent by 2030,” he added.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, emphasized that the cholera response commodities were procured through the Supplementary Budget Project on “Cholera Outbreak Preparedness and Response in Nigeria,” funded by the Government of Japan with a grant of $500,000, in partnership with WHO.
Hideo said the ceremony highlights Japan’s strong support for Nigeria in combating cholera.
“The Government of Japan remains steadfast in its belief that every life is precious and that timely, coordinated action can prevent avoidable loss. Today’s handover demonstrates Japan’s practical commitment to saving lives, strengthening health systems, and promoting community resilience.
“I would like to sincerely acknowledge NCDC and WHO for their close collaboration in delivering this initiative. Their field-level expertise and tireless dedication have ensured that Japan’s contribution is translated into concrete impact for the most vulnerable communities,” Hideo noted.
The Ambassador emphasised that Japan’s urgent funding supports cholera prevention and control in Nigeria.
He said the assistance strengthens Nigeria’s capacity to respond swiftly to outbreaks through the provision of essential materials such as diagnostic kits, rehydration supplies, and logistics support.
He noted that, “The goal is clear: to detect cases early, contain their spread, and protect the lives of those most at risk. In addition to providing life-saving commodities, the project includes hands-on training to enhance emergency response capacity.
“The Cholera Readiness Workshops, already held in Abuja for the North-Central region and continuing nationwide, are equipping health professionals with vital knowledge and skills to act decisively when outbreaks occur. These frontline workers will be the vanguard of early detection and rapid intervention in their respective communities.
“The cholera response we celebrate today is part of a broader partnership between Japan and Nigeria in the health sector. The Government of Japan is currently funding two additional cholera-related projects: one, implemented through the United Nations Office for Project Services, provides medical equipment to NCDC in Lagos; and another, executed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, enhances the capacity of food and water vendors and waste management workers to prevent the spread of infection in Lagos.
“Together, these three projects represent a total contribution of $1.725 million from the Government of Japan, demonstrating our strong, continuous commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to protect public health and save lives.”
He added that the spirit guiding this assistance aligns with Japan’s vision shared at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held in Yokohama in August.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, stated that the support, delivered through the Japan-WHO Cholera Preparedness and Response Grant, comes at a time when Nigeria continues to strengthen its lessons from past cholera seasons.
He said the donation includes cholera central and periphery kits, Oral Rehydration Point kits, IPC materials, laboratory strengthening modules, diagnostic tools, sanitation hardware, logistics support, and life-saving supplies for the Cholera Treatment Centers, Cholera Treatment Units, and ORPs nationwide.
“These resources will significantly enhance our national and state-level capacity for treatment, early detection, and rapid response to outbreaks.
“As earlier highlighted by the WHO and NCDC teams, cholera continues to pose a recurrent threat in Nigeria, driven by inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, population displacement and insecurity, weak community-based surveillance, gaps in oral cholera vaccine coverage, and insufficient Water, Sanitation, and Health infrastructure, especially in high-burden LGAs.
The NCDC boss noted that while Nigeria continues to face challenges in controlling cholera, including rising antibiotic resistance linked to factors like misuse of antibiotics and gaps in infection control, the country has made notable progress through strong leadership, improved diagnostics, vaccine investment, and enhanced coordination across sectors.
The WHO Emergency Team Lead, Ann Fortin, stated that, in collaboration with the Federal Government through the NCDC and with strong support from the International Federation of Red Cross, UNICEF, and Africa CDC, efforts are focused on strengthening community-based surveillance, enhancing local cholera preparedness, providing essential medicines, and promoting awareness on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.
Fortin said a total of 134 LGAs have been identified as most at risk for cholera, with interventions prioritized in these areas while remaining flexible to respond elsewhere as needed.
