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…over 10,000 cases recorded, number of unvaccinated children rising
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified Kano, Borno, Bauchi and two other states as the states bearing the heaviest burden of diphtheria in Nigeria.
NCDC, however, disclosed more than 10,000 confirmed cases of diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable disease has been recorded across the country this year particularly in the aforementioned northern states.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, told journalists at a press conference, in Abuja, on Friday, that the proportion of confirmed diphtheria cases resulting in death had declined considerably compared with the same period last year, but the continuing burden of the disease remained a major public health concern.
He noted that most confirmed diphtheria cases are concentrated in a few states, particularly Kano, Borno and Bauchi. “The central issue is that too many children remain unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated,” Idris said.
He identified vaccine hesitancy, insecurity, hard-to-reach communities, displacement and population movement as major factors making it difficult to reach every child who requires protection against the disease.
The NCDC boss stressed that diphtheria was vaccine-preventable, and that improved vaccination coverage was critical to bringing transmission under control.
He thus called on state and local governments, particularly in affected areas, to strengthen routine immunisation and targeted vaccination programmes, identify communities with low vaccination coverage and ensure that children who had missed their routine doses were reached.
Idris further disclosed that reactive vaccination was being carried out in affected areas, while essential treatment and laboratory commodities were being provided to strengthen the response.
He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children were fully vaccinated, stressing that diphtheria vaccines are safe, effective and available free of charge through routine immunisation services and vaccination campaigns.
He advised parents whose children had missed any recommended dose to take them to the nearest health facility to complete their vaccination.
The NCDC DG also urged Nigerians to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms of diphtheria develop, stressing that early recognition and appropriate management could save lives.
On cholera, Idris disclosed that Nigeria had recorded more than 65,000 suspected cases across 35 states and approximately 195 Local Government Areas this year.
He also disclosed that weekly cholera cases had declined substantially from the peak recorded earlier in the season, while the proportion of reported cases resulting in death was also considerably lower than at the same period last year.
He, however, warned that cholera transmission remained ongoing, urging states and local governments to remain vigilant, and must not become complacent.
He urged Nigerians to ensure that drinking water was safe, maintain clean surroundings, use proper sanitation facilities, avoid open defecation and practise regular handwashing.
He advised anyone who develops frequent watery diarrhoea, with or without vomiting, to begin oral rehydration immediately and proceed to the nearest health facility.
Idris assured that the NCDC would continue to coordinate the national response, strengthen surveillance and laboratory capacity, support healthcare workers and deploy National Rapid Response Teams to affected states as necessary.
He, however, stressed that Federal Government action alone could not bring the outbreaks under control, thus urging states, local governments, healthcare workers, communities and families to sustain preventive measures.
