FG activates task force over diphtheria outbreak in Katsina, Kano

…Deploys 500,000 vaccine doses, expands treatment centres

By Chidinma Chukwu, Abuja

ABUJA — The Federal Government has activated an emergency multi-agency task force to contain a diphtheria outbreak affecting children in parts of Katsina and Kano states.

As part of the immediate response, the government has deployed 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines to the two states and commenced measures to expand access to treatment for affected communities.

The directive was issued by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, according to a statement signed by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, on Friday.

The ministry said the emergency task force would strengthen disease surveillance, close immunisation gaps and ensure that suspected and confirmed cases receive prompt treatment and referral care.

It said the response was part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases and strengthen the country’s capacity to detect and respond rapidly to disease outbreaks.

The task force was constituted 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.

According to the statement, the committee would be co-chaired by the Director-General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health.

It would 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.

The ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as secretary of the task force.

Under the emergency response plan, the NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano for intensified immunisation of unvaccinated children in affected and high-risk communities.

The task force will also conduct detailed investigations into the outbreak, strengthen surveillance and intensify community mobilisation and sensitisation to identify children who have not received the required doses and ensure they are vaccinated.

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 ministry said the treatment centres would bring care closer to affected communities and enable suspected and confirmed cases to receive early medical attention.

The Federal Government is also mobilising emergency 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 health workers managing diphtheria cases.

The ministry said the task force had been directed to submit weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on the progress of the response, emerging challenges and additional resources required.

It added that any bottlenecks identified during the response would be escalated for immediate resolution to ensure that interventions were implemented promptly.

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