By Saminu Ibrahim
The Federal Government has activated an emergency multi-agency task force to contain an outbreak of diphtheria affecting children in parts of Katsina and Kano States.
The task force, 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), affected state governments and international health partners, is expected to strengthen surveillance, close immunisation gaps and improve access to timely treatment.
The directive was issued by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, as part of efforts to protect children and strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.
The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health, with representatives from the NPHCDA; Commissioners for Health of 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.
The Federal Government directed the task force to focus immediately on three key areas: outbreak containment and immunisation, expanded access to treatment, and emergency support for referral care.
Under the immunisation component, the task force will conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen disease surveillance and intensify community sensitisation to identify and vaccinate unprotected children.
As part of the immediate response, the NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano states to support intensified immunisation activities in affected and high-risk communities.
The Katsina State Government is also expected to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the state’s three senatorial districts — Katsina, Daura and Funtua — to bring treatment closer to affected communities and facilitate early intervention.
The task force will equally mobilise urgent support for the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, 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 (PPE) for healthcare workers.
Similarly, the task force is expected to submit weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on progress made, emerging challenges and additional requirements, while identified bottlenecks will be escalated for immediate resolution.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerian children from vaccine-preventable diseases and ensuring a swift, coordinated and evidence-based response to bring the outbreak under control.
