Latest news with #Gavi-funded
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nigeria has received more than 1 million vaccines to fight an ongoing meningitis outbreak
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria has received more than 1 million vaccines from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat a meningitis outbreak in the northern part of the country, the government said on Friday. At least 74 people have died from the disease, with more than 800 cases reported across 23 of Nigeria's 36 states, according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, or NCDC. The northern region of the country has been hit hardest by the disease. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said that the arrival of the vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria's response to the current meningitis outbreak. 'We have prioritized epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda,' Pate said in a joint statement by the global vaccine alliance Gavi, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the Nigerian government. The vaccine is also critical to Nigeria's long-term health security and helping prevent future outbreaks and safeguarding future generations, said Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO's representative in Nigeria. Meningitis, more common during the hot season in Nigeria, affects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It's a significant public health challenge in Africa's most populous country, which is also battling malaria. Nigeria previously received aid from the U.S. Agency for International Development to combat these diseases, but that support has recently been withdrawn. Nigeria is located in an area known as the African Meningitis Belt. Between 2022 and 2023, the country recorded 2,765 suspected cases and 190 deaths, according to NCDC. Nigeria is working to implement a road map approved by the World Health Assembly in November 2020 that aims to eradicate meningitis by 2030.
Associated Press
04-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Nigeria has received more than 1 million vaccines to fight an ongoing meningitis outbreak
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria has received more than 1 million vaccines from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat a meningitis outbreak in the northern part of the country, the government said on Friday. At least 74 people have died from the disease, with more than 800 cases reported across 23 of Nigeria's 36 states, according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, or NCDC. The northern region of the country has been hit hardest by the disease. Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said that the arrival of the vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria's response to the current meningitis outbreak. 'We have prioritized epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda,' Pate said in a joint statement by the global vaccine alliance Gavi, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the Nigerian government. The vaccine is also critical to Nigeria's long-term health security and helping prevent future outbreaks and safeguarding future generations, said Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO's representative in Nigeria. Meningitis, more common during the hot season in Nigeria, affects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It's a significant public health challenge in Africa's most populous country, which is also battling malaria. Nigeria previously received aid from the U.S. Agency for International Development to combat these diseases, but that support has recently been withdrawn. Nigeria is located in an area known as the African Meningitis Belt. Between 2022 and 2023, the country recorded 2,765 suspected cases and 190 deaths, according to NCDC. Nigeria is working to implement a road map approved by the World Health Assembly in November 2020 that aims to eradicate meningitis by 2030.
Reuters
04-04-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Nigeria receives over 1 million meningitis vaccine from Gavi
LAGOS, April 4 (Reuters) - Nigeria has received more than 1 million meningitis vaccine doses from Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat an outbreak of the deadly disease in Africa's most populous nation, Gavi said on Friday. More than 70 people have died from the outbreak across several Nigerian states, with over 800 cases recorded, Gavi said. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here. Nigeria is one of the hotspots of the deadly disease in Africa, where at least 1,700 cases were reported last year, with more than 150 deaths recorded in seven states. Gavi, a public-private partnership that helps fund vaccines for developing countries, said this first shipment would enable the launch of an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1–29 years, the most severely affected group. The campaign will initially launch in Kebbi and Sokoto States, with plans to expand to Yobe State as additional doses arrive, Gavi said. Nigeria became the first country in the world to roll out the "revolutionary" new Men5C vaccine against meningitis last year, according to the World Health Organization. Outbreaks are common during the dry season, which runs from December to June, peaking between March and April, when low humidity and high dust levels prevail. Meningitis is an inflammation of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord which can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. It spreads mainly through kisses, sneezes, coughs and in close living quarters.
