FG Activates Emergency Task Force as Diphtheria Outbreak Hits Katsina, Kano

The Federal Government has activated an emergency multi-agency task force to contain an outbreak of diphtheria reported among children in parts of Katsina and Kano States.

The intervention, directed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, is aimed at strengthening disease surveillance, closing immunisation gaps and ensuring affected children have timely access to treatment.

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, has constituted the task force to coordinate the emergency response.

The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of NCDC and the Director of Public Health.

Its membership includes officials of NPHCDA; the Commissioners for Health of Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto States; representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF; and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State.

The Ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as secretary.

The task force has been mandated to immediately implement measures across three key areas: outbreak containment and immunisation, expanded access to treatment, and emergency support for referral care.

500,000 vaccine doses deployed

Under the immunisation response, health authorities will conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen surveillance and intensify community sensitisation campaigns to identify and vaccinate unprotected children.

The NPHCDA has already deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano States to support intensified immunisation in affected and high-risk communities.

The government said the intervention is intended to close population immunity gaps that could facilitate further transmission of the disease.

Treatment centres planned across Katsina

To improve access to treatment, the task force will work with the Katsina State Government to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the state’s three senatorial districts — Katsina, Daura and Funtua.

The move is expected to bring treatment closer to affected communities and improve early diagnosis and intervention.

The 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 package includes Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.

The task force will submit weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on the progress of the response, emerging challenges and additional resources required.

Any identified bottlenecks are expected to be escalated for immediate resolution.

The Federal Government said it remained committed to protecting Nigerian children against vaccine-preventable diseases and would sustain a coordinated, evidence-based response until the outbreak is brought under control.