The Federal Government has activated an emergency task force to contain a diphtheria outbreak among children in parts of Katsina and Kano States, deploying immediate measures to strengthen surveillance, close immunisation gaps and ensure timely access to treatment.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, issued the directive, with the Federal Ministry of Health working alongside the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, affected state governments and international health partners to form a multi agency response team.
The task force, co-chaired by the NCDC Director General and the Director of Public Health, includes representatives from Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto States, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, and has been directed to act on three fronts, outbreak investigation and immunisation, expanded treatment access, and emergency support for referral care.
As part of the immediate response, NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 vaccine doses to Katsina and Kano States to support intensified immunisation in affected and at risk communities, while the Katsina State Government works with the task force to establish treatment annexes across the state’s three senatorial districts, Katsina, Daura and Funtua.
The Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, the principal referral centre for the state and neighbouring areas, will receive urgent support including Diphtheria Antitoxin, intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel and protective equipment, with the task force set to provide weekly progress updates to the Coordinating Minister.
By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed
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