Nigeria is transitioning from emergency cholera response to building long-term resilience against outbreaks, thanks to its partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), officials say.
Dr. Muhammad Saleh, Senior Emergency Management Specialist at the U.S. CDC, said on Wednesday in Abuja that the joint effort is focused on strengthening surveillance, laboratory systems, and community-level interventions to curb recurring epidemics.
“Cholera has been a persistent challenge in Nigeria, but we are now going beyond reactive response. We are building systems that can withstand future outbreaks, from infection prevention and control to rapid community detection and treatment,” Saleh explained.
One of the key interventions has been the widespread distribution of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in high-burden states. This has enabled frontline health workers to detect suspected cases early and provide life-saving care.
On laboratory capacity, Saleh noted that the U.S. CDC has helped equip testing facilities and train Nigerian health workers to detect not only cholera but also other priority diseases such as Lassa fever and meningitis.
He added that Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures have been reinforced through the training of disease experts and community health workers.
“So far, 2,400 community volunteers have been trained across the FCT, Sokoto, Ebonyi, and Ondo states. These volunteers are the first line of defence — spotting symptoms early, alerting health facilities, and educating their neighbours on safe practices like hand-washing and sanitation,” he said.
To improve resource allocation, Nigeria and the U.S. CDC jointly developed a cholera hotspot mapping tool, which identifies vulnerable states and communities for targeted intervention.
Saleh also praised the establishment of Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, which now provide infrastructure for coordinated response and data-driven decision-making.
“Not to say we have achieved everything, but we are far better than before. Our aim is long-term resilience. Everybody has a role — government, partners, communities, and families. The more we sustain these efforts, the more resilient Nigeria becomes,” he said.
Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, spreads through contaminated food or water and can lead to severe diarrhoea and dehydration. While deadly if untreated, the disease is both preventable and treatable with good sanitation and oral rehydration solutions.
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