Maiduguri, 19 September 2017 - As the cholera vaccination campaign kicks off for the first time in Nigeria in the affected areas of Borno state, the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Usman Mamman Durkwa has commended World Health Organization’s (WHO) commitment to contain the outbreak.

With technical support from WHO and partners, the Borno state Ministry of Health (SMOH) is targeting nearly 900,000 people aged one year and above with oral cholera vaccine in the affected areas of Maiduguri Municipal Council, Jere, Dikwa, Konduga and Monguno local government areas (LGAs). A total of 704 teams are conducting house-to-house strategy on 18-21 September in all the high risk areas to reach populations at risk with the vaccine.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Borno state, His Excellency, Mamman Durkwa explained that the achievements made so far to respond to the cholera outbreak, including the current vaccination campaign, would not have been possible without the support and commitment of WHO and partners.

“Without WHO’s robust surveillance system, rapid detection and readiness with a cholera response plan, the cholera outbreak situation could be worse,” he stated.

The Deputy Governor, represented by the Borno Head of Service, Alhaji Yerima Saleh noted that since the first cholera case was confirmed about a month ago, the state Government has been on top of issues with the support of the health sector partners led by WHO and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) cluster coordinated by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The Emergency Manager, WHO Health Emergency Programme in Maiduguri, Borno state, Dr Collins Owili at the event reiterated WHO’s commitment to ensure a reversal of the current trend of cholera outbreak in Borno state.

“WHO is providing technical support including active case search for early detection, training of health workers on case management and risk communication to ensure that the current cholera outbreak in the areas already transmitting the disease is contained and prevented in areas not affected yet,” Dr Owili said.     

Since the first case of cholera was traced to Muna internally displaced persons (IDP) camp  in Jere LGA of Borno, WHO has led health sector partners to support the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) to contain the outbreak and protect people in the most at-risk locations. Four specialized treatment centres: two in Maiduguri, one each  in Monguno and Dikwa, with a cumulative number of over 280 beds have been established to manage and treat cases. Several oral rehydration points (ORPs) have also been set up in IDP sites to handle  less complicated cases.

Additionally, WHO surveillance teams are conducting door-to-door case investigations and referring patients for treatment when necessary. Chlorine sprayers have been trained and are going from shelter to shelter, disinfecting houses with WHO-prepared chlorine solution while the organization’s field volunteers, hard-to-reach teams and LGA facilitators are sensitizing families on the risk of infection and how to get treatment when they suspect cholera.

As of 17 September 2017, the outbreak has claimed at least 48 lives, out of over 2600 confirmed and/or suspected cases.

Technical contact:

• Dr Mary Stephen; Tel: +234 803 639 1332; Email: stephenm [at] who.int (stephenm[at]who[dot]int)
• Mr. Chima Onuekwe; Tel: +234 803 535 4876; Email: onuekwec [at] who.int (onuekwec[at]who[dot]int)