The federal government has initiated discussions with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) to secure additional supplies of cholera vaccines.

Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), confirmed this in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nigeria is grappling with a cholera outbreak amidst a global shortage of vaccines.

Mr Idris noted that recognising the urgent need for vaccines, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has entered into discussions with Gavi.

“At present, cholera vaccines are not stocked in our public facilities, though they are available in limited quantities in the private sector,” he explained.

He highlighted that the demand for cholera vaccines has surged globally, leading to severe shortages.

“This limited supply has strained efforts to control outbreaks in endemic regions, including Nigeria,” Mr Idris explained.

In response to the crisis, he said the NCDC has intensified its public health campaigns, emphasising hygiene practices and the importance of clean water.

“However, these measures alone are insufficient without adequate vaccination coverage. The shortage of vaccines has hampered mass immunisation campaigns crucial for preventing the spread of cholera,” he stated.

He also called for stronger international collaboration to ensure that life-saving vaccines promptly reached the most vulnerable populations.

In response to the escalating cholera outbreak in 31 states, he said the NCDC has activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate national efforts to combat the disease.

“The cholera outbreak is characterised by a case fatality rate of 3.5 per cent, significantly higher than the national expected average of one per cent, underscoring the severity of the situation,” he said.

He said that Lagos accounted for the highest number of deaths with 29, followed by Rivers with eight, Abia and Delta with four each, Katsina with three, Bayelsa with two, and Kano, Nasarawa, and Cross River with one each.

The states affected by cholera include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, the FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara.

Since January 2023, 82 million doses have been requested from 15 countries, almost double the 46 million doses produced over the same period.

The global stockpile was depleted until early March 2024 and currently has 3.2 million doses, far short of the five-dose goal.

(NAN)