Nigeria activates emergency task force for diphtheria outbreak

The Nigerian Federal Government has activated an emergency task force to contain a diphtheria outbreak affecting children in Katsina and Kano states. The initiative, directed by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, aims to strengthen disease surveillance, close immunization gaps, and ensure timely medical access.

To support these efforts, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to the affected and at-risk communities in Katsina and Kano. The multi-agency task force includes the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the NPHCDA, affected state governments, and international partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

The task force is focusing on three primary objectives: outbreak containment through intensified immunization and community sensitization, expanded access to treatment, and emergency support for referral care. In Katsina, the state government has been directed to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the Katsina, Daura, and Funtua senatorial districts to facilitate early intervention for affected children.