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, with authorities deploying vaccines and expanding access to treatment.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, directed the immediate activation of the task force as part of measures to strengthen disease surveillance, close immunization gaps, and ensure prompt treatment of affected persons.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the affected state governments, and international health partners, constituted the task force to coordinate the emergency response.
The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health, while its membership includes officials of the NPHCDA; the Commissioners for Health in Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, and Sokoto States; representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF; and officials of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State. The ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as the task force’s secretary.
As part of the immediate containment measures, the NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano states to support intensified immunisation of unvaccinated children in affected and high-risk communities.
The task force has also been directed to conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen surveillance and intensify community sensitisation campaigns aimed at increasing vaccination coverage and closing immunity gaps.
To improve access to care, 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 — Katsina, Daura, and Funtua.
The treatment centres are expected to bring care closer to affected communities and facilitate early intervention for suspected and confirmed cases. The government is also mobilizing emergency support for the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, which serves as the state’s principal referral center and for neighboring areas.
The support will include Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
The task force is expected to provide weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on the progress of the response, emerging challenges and additional requirements, while identified bottlenecks will be escalated for immediate resolution.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases, stressing that it would sustain a coordinated, evidence-based response until the outbreak is brought under control.
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