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…deploys 500,000 vaccines, expands treatment centres, emergency referral support
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has activated an emergency task force to contain the outbreak of diphtheria among children in parts of Katsina and Kano states, with immediate measures being deployed to strengthen surveillance, close immunisation gaps and improve access to treatment.
The directive was issued by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, as part of efforts to protect Nigerian children and strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), affected state governments and international health partners, has constituted the multi-agency task force to coordinate the emergency response.
The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health, with members drawn from the NPHCDA; commissioners for health in Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto states; the World Health Organisation (WHO); UNICEF; and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State. The Ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as secretary of the task force.
As part of immediate containment measures, the NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano states to support intensified immunisation of unvaccinated children in affected and high-risk communities.
The task force has also been directed to conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen disease surveillance and intensify community sensitisation to address population immunity gaps.
Under the treatment component of the response, the Federal Government said it would work with the Katsina State Government to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the state’s three senatorial districts — Katsina, Daura and Funtua.
The move, according to the government, is aimed at bringing treatment closer to affected communities and ensuring early intervention for patients.
The emergency task force has further been mandated to mobilise urgent support for the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, which serves as the principal referral centre for the state and parts of neighbouring states.
The support will include Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
The government said the task force would provide weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on progress made, emerging challenges and additional requirements, while identified bottlenecks would be escalated for immediate resolution.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Nigerian children from vaccine-preventable diseases, the Federal Government said it remained determined to deploy a swift, coordinated and evidence-based response to bring the outbreak under control.
