Nigeria has received cholera response kits worth $500,000 from the Government of Japan to strengthen national preparedness and boost rapid response to the outbreak, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has facilitated procurement and delivery to high-risk states across the country.
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, described the contribution as a direct, life-saving intervention.
“This partnership is saving lives. Cholera kits and training have improved Nigeria’s preparedness to respond to outbreaks. WHO remains committed to helping the country reduce cholera-related deaths to less than one percent.”
Dr Ursu said Japanese-funded support was already improving surveillance, diagnosis and case management across the country.
According to him, “supplies are now being deployed to high-risk areas to assist in the timely detection and effective management of cholera cases.”
Also speaking was Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Suzuki Hideo, who 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 delivery 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 recurring cholera outbreaks, with 9,929 cases and 235 deaths reported across 36 states and the FCT in 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 US$1.725 billion from the Government of Japan, demonstrating our strong and continued commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to protect public health and save lives.”
Drawing on Japan’s history, the ambassador recalled how early hygiene and isolation practices saved thousands of people during a deadly cholera outbreak in the 1850s. “This Japanese experience reminds us that it must be entirely possible to reduce cholera mortality to zero,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, expressed his deep gratitude to Japan and the WHO for the intervention.
“Today’s ceremony is much more than a delivery of essential 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 products included central and peripheral cholera kits, oral rehydration point (PRO) kits, infection prevention and control materials, sanitation equipment, diagnostic tools and logistical support. “These resources will significantly improve our capacity for treatment, early detection and rapid response to outbreaks,” he said.
Dr Idris warned that persistent challenges such as contaminated water, population displacement, poor surveillance and growing antibiotic resistance continue to fuel outbreaks.
“Our challenges are compounded by the fact that the cholera germ is rapidly acquiring resistance to antibiotics,” he said, citing overprescribing, self-medication and poor infection control practices as contributing factors.
Even so, he highlighted the progress. “Nigeria has made measurable progress and improvements in diagnosis, coordination, investment in vaccines and a reduction in case fatality rates from 3.3% to 2.3%. The identification of 134 priority areas for multi-sectoral intervention (PAMI), he added, has strengthened the response to hotspots.
He assured that the NCDC would ensure accountability in the use of the donated items. “Ending cholera is not just a public health goal, it is a moral imperative. We will ensure transparency, accountability and impact on the use of every item received today.”
Earlier, the federal government expressed its gratitude to the people of Japan, calling the support timely and critical. The cholera kits, purchased through WHO, include core and peripheral modules designed to treat 100 patients per kit during the initial phase of an outbreak. Each kit contains oral rehydration salts, medications, supplies, equipment and logistical devices for PCI.
Japan’s support also funded a national Training of Trainers (ToT) program that equipped 176 trainers across the six geopolitical zones, whose knowledge is now being cascaded to frontline healthcare workers in the 134 highest-risk LGAs.
As Nigeria battles 22,196 suspected cases and 505 deaths so far in 2025, officials stressed that sustained partnerships, strong surveillance and greater community engagement remain essential to keeping communities safe.
“Today’s partnership strengthens our courage. It brings Nigeria one step closer to a future where cholera no longer threatens the health or dignity of our people,” he said.