The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that Nigeria is gradually moving from emergency cholera response to building long-term resilience against the disease and other infectious outbreaks. Dr. Muhammad Saleh, a senior Emergency Management Specialist at the U.S. CDC, attributed this progress to the strong partnership between Nigeria and the agency. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Saleh explained that the joint effort is focused on strengthening surveillance, improving laboratory capacity and implementing community-level interventions to contain recurring epidemics.
According to him, cholera has remained a persistent challenge in Nigeria, but the country is now going beyond reactive response to create systems capable of withstanding future outbreaks. These systems include stronger infection prevention and control measures as well as rapid community detection and treatment. A key intervention has been the widespread distribution of oral rehydration solutions and rapid diagnostic tests in high-burden states, which enables frontline health workers to quickly detect suspected cholera cases and provide life-saving care.
Saleh noted that laboratory strengthening is another major focus, with the U.S. CDC working with Nigerian authorities to equip testing facilities and train health workers to detect not only cholera but also other priority diseases such as Lassa fever and meningitis. Infection prevention and control measures have also been reinforced through the training of disease experts and community health workers. So far, 2,400 community volunteers have been trained across the Federal Capital Territory, Sokoto, Ebonyi and Ondo states to serve as the first line of defence. These volunteers play a critical role by spotting symptoms early, alerting health facilities and educating their neighbours on safe practices such as handwashing and proper sanitation.
To enhance resource allocation, the U.S. CDC and the Nigerian government have developed a mapping tool that identifies cholera hotspots across the country, allowing health officials to determine which states and communities should be prioritised during an outbreak. Saleh commended the work of Emergency Operations Centres established in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, noting that U.S. CDC support for training in public health emergency management has enabled states to better coordinate outbreak responses and use data to inform decision-making.
He stressed that the progress achieved so far reflects the importance of collaboration among government agencies, partners, communities and families. While acknowledging that more work remains to be done, Saleh said the focus is now on sustaining these efforts to achieve long-term resilience. Cholera, a waterborne disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, spreads through contaminated food or water, but it is preventable with good sanitation and treatable with oral rehydration.