EU Releases €1.5m to Strengthen Nigeria’s Fight Against Cholera

The European Union has approved €1.5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for Nigeria to support efforts to contain the spread of cholera, improve access to treatment and prevent further deaths.

The funding forms part of a wider €2.3 million emergency package announced by the European Commission for Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad as cholera continues to pose a serious public health threat across parts of Africa.

According to the World Health Organisation, 61,888 cholera cases and 1,230 deaths were recorded in 16 African countries between January 1 and May 31, 2026. Nigeria accounted for 6,860 cases and 80 deaths during the period, including 5,798 cases and 54 deaths recorded in May alone.

The EU said its allocation to Nigeria would fund additional response teams, provide essential cholera treatment supplies and expand water, sanitation and hygiene measures in communities affected by the outbreak.

The intervention will also strengthen disease surveillance, particularly in hard-to-reach locations, improve the management of patients and increase public awareness about cholera prevention and early treatment.

As part of the programme, public water sources and household water supplies will be treated, while surveillance activities will be expanded in areas where access is difficult.

These measures are expected to improve the early detection of cases and help health authorities respond more quickly to outbreaks.

EU Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said the emergency assistance was necessary because cholera continues to threaten communities without reliable access to clean water and healthcare.

She stressed that cholera is both preventable and treatable but can become deadly when people lack access to safe water, sanitation and timely medical attention.

Lahbib added that the funding was being released at a time when humanitarian needs were rising while available resources were becoming increasingly limited.

The EU said the Nigerian intervention would also support community engagement and public education campaigns aimed at helping residents understand how cholera spreads, how to prevent infection and when to seek medical attention.

Beyond Nigeria, Cameroon will receive €100,000 for outbreak control and case management, including additional humanitarian personnel, medicines, cholera treatment units and oral rehydration points in severely affected communities.

The Central African Republic will receive €500,000 to strengthen case management and vaccination efforts, alongside water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, disease surveillance and community engagement.

The funding will also support safe and dignified burials.
Chad will receive €200,000 to improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene while strengthening surveillance and case management to help interrupt the spread of the disease.

WHO data showed that the Democratic Republic of Congo recorded Africa’s highest number of cholera cases during the period, with 28,567 cases and 815 deaths. South Sudan recorded 7,712 cases, while Mozambique reported 7,500 cases.

Nigeria’s 6,860 reported cases placed it among the countries with the highest cholera burden on the continent.

However, the WHO cautioned that the figures could be affected by under-reporting, delays in reporting and differences in surveillance systems and case definitions between countries.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is mainly transmitted through contaminated food and water and can cause severe dehydration and death within a short period if patients do not receive prompt treatment.

Health authorities have warned that cholera outbreaks are becoming increasingly difficult to control because of factors including conflict, displacement, climate-related disasters, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to healthcare, particularly in rural and flood-affected areas.

The latest EU intervention follows a €4.2 million programme launched by the EU and WHO in May to strengthen selected Nigerian public health institutions, improve their ability to detect disease outbreaks early and speed up the sharing of vital health information.

With the new €1.5 million allocation, the immediate priority in Nigeria will be to reduce transmission, expand access to treatment, improve disease surveillance and ensure that vulnerable communities have access to safe water, sanitation facilities and accurate public health information.

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