The Federal Government has activated an emergency multi-agency task force to contain a diphtheria outbreak affecting children in parts of Kano and Katsina states.
The government has also deployed 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines to the two states as part of measures to contain the outbreak and protect children in affected and high-risk communities.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, ordered the emergency response, according to a statement signed by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.
The task force is expected to strengthen disease surveillance, close immunisation gaps and ensure that suspected and confirmed cases receive prompt treatment and referral care.
The response is being coordinated by 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), the affected state governments and international health partners.
The Director-General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health will co-chair the task force, while the ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as secretary.
The committee will include representatives of the NPHCDA, health commissioners from Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto states, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State.
Under the emergency response plan, the NPHCDA has distributed 500,000 vaccine doses to Kano and Katsina for intensified immunisation of children who have not received the required doses.
The task force will investigate the outbreak, strengthen surveillance and intensify community mobilisation to identify unvaccinated children in affected and high-risk areas.
Health authorities will also step up public sensitisation to encourage families to seek medical attention for children showing symptoms associated with diphtheria.
To improve access to treatment, the Katsina State Government is expected to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the state’s three senatorial districts — Katsina, Daura and Funtua.
The Federal Government is also mobilising emergency support for the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, which serves as a major referral centre for the state and neighbouring areas.
The support will include Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel and personal protective equipment for health workers managing cases.
The ministry said the measures were designed to bring treatment closer to affected communities and ensure that suspected and confirmed cases receive early medical attention.
The task force has been directed to submit weekly reports to the Coordinating Minister on the progress of the response, emerging challenges and additional resources required.
The ministry said any bottlenecks identified during the response would be escalated for immediate action.
It added that the emergency measures form part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases and strengthen Nigeria’s ability to detect and respond quickly to disease outbreaks.