Nigeria has received a crucial shipment of over 1.2 million meningitis vaccine doses.
This delivery aims to combat a concerning outbreak that has already claimed over 70 lives nationwide.
UNICEF and the vaccine supplier confirmed the arrival of the vital jabs on Friday.
The devastating outbreak has infected more than 800 individuals across 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
Nigeria, a nation of 220 million people, lies within the African Meningitis Belt.
This region is hyper-endemic for the potentially deadly disease.
Meningitis causes inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.Various pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, can trigger this serious condition.
Common symptoms include severe headache, fever, and a stiff neck.
Bacterial meningitis poses the gravest threat, potentially leading to blood poisoning and death within a single day.
Nigeria’s health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, hailed the arrival of the Men5CV vaccine as “a crucial milestone.”
This advanced vaccine offers broader protection against the five dominant strains of meningococcal bacteria with just one injection.
