UNICEF: Nigeria Records Second-Highest Cholera Cases in West and Central Africa

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s rising cholera infections, ranking the country as the second most affected in West and Central Africa.

UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Gilles Fagninou, said on Wednesday that cholera has become a recurring and endemic problem in Nigeria.

“Cholera remains endemic in Nigeria, with recurrent major outbreaks in recent years,” he noted. “By the end of June, Nigeria had reported 3,109 suspected cholera cases and 86 deaths across 34 states.”

Fagninou explained that the region’s cholera crisis is escalating, particularly impacting children. An estimated 80,000 children in West and Central Africa are now considered at high risk, especially as the rainy season brings increased flooding, displacement, and unsanitary conditions—factors that heighten the spread of the disease.

Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water. Although treatable with oral rehydration and antibiotics, it can be fatal within hours if left untreated. Fagninou highlighted that children, especially those under five, are highly vulnerable due to poor hygiene, lack of sanitation, and limited access to clean water.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) currently tops the regional chart, with over 38,000 cases and 951 deaths reported in July alone. Children under five represent nearly 26% of those affected in the DRC, raising fears of the worst cholera crisis since 2017 if urgent action is not taken.

Other countries facing ongoing cholera outbreaks include Chad, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of Congo, and Togo. Meanwhile, nations like Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon are also being closely monitored due to their vulnerability.

To combat the spread, UNICEF has provided life-saving medical supplies, clean water resources, sanitation support, and treatment facilities to affected communities. The agency has also backed vaccination campaigns and intensified awareness and preparedness measures.

“We are in a race against time,” Fagninou warned. “We’re working with governments to provide critical healthcare, clean water, and nutrition to protect children from both cholera and severe malnutrition.”

He said UNICEF and its partners are striving to reach even the most remote areas, ensuring no child is left behind.

UNICEF is now urgently seeking $20 million in funding over the next three months to scale up health, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), risk communication, and community engagement interventions across the region.