Lagos State’s cholera response has received a major boost as the Japanese government handed over a new shipment of emergency medical supplies and preparedness items to the state government.
Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, said in a statement on Friday that the donation aims to prevent a repeat of the devastating 2024 cholera outbreak in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, described Japan’s support as “immense and timely,” noting that the supplies would aid not only in cholera management but also in addressing other diarrhoeal diseases.
Represented by the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Ismail Abudus-Salam, Abayomi recalled that contaminated food and water were key drivers of the 2024 outbreak. He stressed that ongoing capacity-building efforts targeting food vendors, water vendors, and waste workers would reduce risks in flood-prone communities.
The commissioner commended the Japanese government for complementing state interventions, highlighting a related project executed through the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation that strengthened emergency capacity among informal sector operators in high-risk areas.
Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, said the handover reflects Japan’s unwavering solidarity with Nigeria in combating cholera, emphasising that “every life is precious and preventable deaths must not be tolerated.”
He disclosed that Japan is funding three complementary cholera-related projects in Nigeria—implemented through United Nations Office for Project Services, the World Health Organization, and UNIDO—with a combined contribution of $1.725 million.
The projects aim to strengthen emergency response, provide critical commodities, and enhance preventive capacity among frontline actors.
Ambassador Hideo referenced Japan’s 1858 cholera outbreak in Edo (Tokyo), noting that early disinfection, isolation, and hygiene measures sharply reduced deaths. He emphasised that these principles remain relevant today.
He cited 2024 statistics showing over 77,000 cholera cases across 31 states, with Lagos State accounting for more than 20 per cent of infections, underlining that controlling outbreaks in Lagos is critical for national prevention efforts.
Hazel Natukunda, Head of UNOPS Nigeria/West Africa, said the project demonstrates the power of collaboration between nations and institutions to strengthen health systems and protect vulnerable communities.
She noted that Japan’s $1 million grant funded essential medicines, diagnostics, WASH materials, PPE, and other supplies, enhancing surveillance, case management, and infection prevention in Lagos health facilities.
“These are more than commodities; they are instruments of preparedness and tools of protection,” she said, adding that the support also strengthens supply chain resilience and safeguards frontline health workers, who are often most exposed during outbreaks.
Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Olawale Poluyi, assured stakeholders of efficient storage, transparent distribution, and rational use of the supplies across general hospitals and primary health centres.
Poluyi noted that high-burden local government areas, including Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Kosofe, and Lagos Mainland, would be prioritised in the distribution of the commodities.
