At least 21 people have died from a cholera in of Nigeria densely populated Lagos State, a health official said Thursday.
The news came as the European Union announced that it will commit €750 million (over $800 million) to launch the African Vaccines Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) program.
The program, announced in Paris, aims to boosting vaccine production in Africa to help the continent respond more independently to outbreaks, including recent ones cholera outbreaks that hit many parts of Africa.
Celebrations fuel cholera outbreak
More than 400 cholera cases have been reported in Lagos State since the outbreak began, according to a Nigerian newspaper The guardian mentionted.
The governor’s special adviser on health, Kemi Ogunyemi, said many of the new cases could be attributed to celebrations for Eid al-Adha, referred to as Ileya in Yoruba, the newspaper reported.
“The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and its agency, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), continues to collect samples of water, food and drinking sources to identify the source of contamination,” he said. .
The health official said that although cases have increased in the state, suspected cases have decreased in many previously affected areas.
Ogunyemi called on residents to seek medical attention if they experience watery diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, general malaise and fever and that cholera treatment is free at public health facilities. Premium Times mentionted.
Africa’s domestic pharmaceutical industry
The AVMA’s announcement came after wide gaps between Western and African nations over the provision of COVID-19 vaccines during the global pandemic.
The new program started on collaboration with the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
AVMA plans to allocate €1 billion and buy 800 million doses from African vaccine producers to offset the high start-up costs.
German Chancellor Olaf Solz he said his government would provide 318 million euros.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the program “will be an essential step towards a genuine African vaccine market”.
The new program “could become a catalyst to promote the pharmaceutical industry in Africa and promote cooperation between member states,” African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat told the summit.
Africa currently imports “99 percent of its vaccines at exorbitant costs,” he added.
AFP contributed to this story.
Editor: Louis Oelofse