The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified efforts to combat cholera outbreak in Nigeria by engaging University of Maiduguri students in a health sensitization campaign. The initiative, held on March 25, 2025, also promoted U-Report, a mobile-based health emergency reporting platform, aimed at strengthening community-led disease surveillance.
Cholera: A Preventable but Deadly Disease
During the event at the Muhammad Indimi Conference Hall, Joseph Senesie, Chief of UNICEF’s Maiduguri Field Office, emphasized that cholera remains a major public health threat despite being preventable.
“Aside from maintaining personal hygiene, which is crucial, we all have a role in assisting the government and society. How? By simply reporting outbreaks through U-Report, allowing authorities to respond swiftly,” Senesie explained.
He urged students to take proactive steps in preventing cholera and to use U-Report to alert health authorities about potential outbreaks.
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Hamza Aisha, Program Coordinator at the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency, urged students to spread the knowledge beyond their campus
“All 36 states in Nigeria are represented here. What you have learned today should not just stay with you—take it home and educate your communities.”
One of the attendees, Ibrahim Ali, described the UNICEF campaign as an eye-opener, revealing that he had already downloaded the U-Report app and pledged to use it for health crisis reporting
“I have learned so much today, and this knowledge will stay with me forever. This initiative empowers us to take action,” he said.
UNICEF’s Commitment to Public Health Advocacy
This initiative highlights UNICEF’s dedication to disease prevention and its reliance on technology-driven solutions to strengthen public health responses in Nigeria.
With cholera outbreaks posing a significant health challenge, UNICEF continues to champion awareness campaigns and digital interventions, equipping communities with tools to combat health crises effectively.
