By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has activated an emergency multi-agency task force to contain the diphtheria outbreak affecting children in parts of Katsina and Kano states, with 500,000 vaccine doses immediately deployed to strengthen immunisation in affected and at-risk communities.
The emergency response, directed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, will focus on containing the outbreak, closing immunisation gaps and expanding access to life-saving treatment.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in a press statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, said in a statement on Friday that the task force was constituted 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.
The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health, with representatives of the NPHCDA, health commissioners from Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto states, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State as members.
The Ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as Secretary of the task force.
According to the government, the response will be implemented across three major fronts, beginning with outbreak containment and intensified immunisation.
The NPHCDA has already deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano to support emergency immunisation of unvaccinated children and close population immunity gaps.
The task force will also conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen disease surveillance and intensify community sensitisation in affected communities.
On treatment, 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 of Katsina, Daura and Funtua.
The measure is expected to bring treatment closer to affected communities and ensure early medical intervention for suspected and confirmed cases.
In addition, urgent support will be mobilised 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.
The task force is expected to provide weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on progress, emerging challenges and additional requirements, while critical bottlenecks will be escalated for immediate resolution.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerian children from vaccine-preventable diseases, pledging a swift, coordinated and evidence-based response to bring the outbreak under control.
About The Author
