The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday donated emergency response kits worth $69,075 to the Borno State Government following the recent outbreak of cholera in the state.
Daily Trust reports that the outbreak, which was declared on October 4, 2024, has affected four local government areas, including MMC, Jere, Konduga, Mafa, and Monguno, with over 450 suspected cases reported and 17 cases confirmed.
While presenting the items in Maiduguri, the Deputy Representative of UNICEF Nigeria, Dr Rownak Khan, noted that Borno State had experienced recurrent cholera outbreaks since 2009.
Dr Rowank said UNICEF was committed to helping the Nigerian government, particularly Borno State to prevent and protect victims of cholera.
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She emphasised that UNICEF had been actively involved in the response efforts, providing critical support in risk communication, hygiene promotion, safe water supply, cholera vaccination, and case management services.
“I am very pleased to announce that I am handing over 30 Acute Water Diarrhoea (90 units), and 50 beds to the Borno State Government. We will be working hand in hand as we progress and continue our support. In terms of monetary, it is valued at $69,075 which is equivalent of N113,284,213.60 million.
“This oral cholera vaccine that came. It was a joint effort between the government and the partner. So UNICEF is one of the partners. We also have other partners who also put a lot of effort into bringing cholera vaccines to Nigeria.
“We have now delivered 300,000 doses of cholera vaccine and those vaccines have already been administered. It’s an oral vaccine, so they were put in mouth. Now we are also bringing other additional doses. As I was coming here, I also came to know that some additional doses of about 600,000 are also coming.
“So I don’t have all the details, but I was told over 500,000, half a million people will be reached through these interventions,” she said.
The state government, represented by the Special Adviser to the Government on Health Matters, Dr. Abubakar Hassan, commended UNICEF’s rapid response and assistance, noting that it had been instrumental in preventing and managing the disease.
The government also acknowledged the long-standing cordial working relationship with UNICEF, spanning over a decade.
The state government assured that these donations would be judiciously used to boost case management and save lives.
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