Sunday, February 22 2026 -The Government of Japan has donated emergency medical supplies worth approximately $1.7 million to the Lagos State Government to boost cholera preparedness and avert a repeat of the deadly 2024 outbreak.
The donation was officially handed over at a Project
Handover Ceremony for Emergency Support on Cholera Response and Preparedness at
the Lagos State Medical Store in Oshodi.
Representing the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof.
Akin Abayomi, the Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Dr
Ismail Abudus-Salam, described the support as both timely and critical.
He said the supplies would significantly strengthen the
state’s capacity to manage cholera and other diarrhea diseases.
Abudus-Salam recalled that contaminated food and water were
key drivers of the 2024 cholera outbreak, adding that the state has since
intensified training and sensitization for food vendors, water suppliers and
waste handlers, particularly in flood-prone communities.
He commended Japan for reinforcing Lagos’ public health
efforts and expanding its emergency response capacity in vulnerable areas,
noting that the collaboration reflects a growing and sustained partnership.
“This partnership is not ending here; it is only beginning,”
he said, while acknowledging the state government’s commitment to international
cooperation in safeguarding public health.
Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, said the
donation shows Japan’s solidarity with Nigeria in preventing avoidable
cholera-related deaths.
He disclosed that Japan is supporting three cholera-focused
interventions in Nigeria through United Nations Office for Project Services,
World Health Organization and United Nations Industrial Development
Organization, with a combined contribution of about $1.725 million.
According to him, Nigeria recorded more than 77,000 cholera
cases across 31 states in 2024, with Lagos accounting for over 20 per cent of
infections, making prevention efforts in the state central to national disease
control.
Also speaking, the Acting Head of Office, Nigeria/West
Africa, UNOPS, Hazel Natukunda, said the project facilitated the procurement of
essential medicines, diagnostic tools, water, sanitation and hygiene materials,
as well as personal protective equipment to enhance surveillance, case
management and infection prevention in health facilities.
“These items go beyond supplies; they are tools for
preparedness and protection,” she said.
In her remarks, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services at
the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Pharm. Olawale Poluyi, assured that the
donated materials would be properly stored and transparently distributed to
general hospitals and primary healthcare centres, with priority given to
high-burden local government areas such as Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu,
Kosofe and Lagos Mainland.
Health officials expressed confidence that sustained public
education, improved sanitation and strengthened partnerships would enable Lagos
to detect outbreaks early, respond swiftly and ultimately achieve zero
cholera-related deaths across the state.
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