The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported that approximately 1,191 people have died from diphtheria since May 2023.
This alarming statistic was revealed by Dr Muzzammil Gadanya, the Incident Manager of the National Diphtheria Emergency Operations Centre, during a National Intra-Action Review Meeting held in Kaduna.
Dr Gadanya indicated that the country has seen over 38,000 suspected cases, with 23,000 confirmed.
He said that although there has been a significant reduction in diphtheria cases across Nigeria, he emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance and effective response mechanisms to prevent the spread of the disease further.
He further stated that vaccination efforts remain a focal point of the response strategy.
Dr. Gadanya reassured that vaccines are available for routine immunization, urging continued efforts to maintain progress in controlling diphtheria.
He added that in collaboration with government initiatives, the Nigeria Red Cross has played a crucial role in the outbreak response.
Dr. Manir Jega, the director of healthcare at the Red Cross, also noted that the organization has deployed 3,700 community-based volunteers for house-to-house sensitization campaigns.
He said the volunteers have conducted educational roadshows to inform the public about the signs and symptoms of diphtheria.
The meeting brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and local government bodies, to assess current strategies for managing the outbreak and to identify areas for improvement.
Key recommendations from the discussions included expanding vaccination efforts, increasing public awareness about the importance of immunization, and implementing active case-finding in affected regions.
Officials say they hope the insights gained from this review will contribute significantly to mitigating the diphtheria epidemic in Nigeria and enhancing the country’s capacity to respond to future outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has raised alarm over the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Nigeria, revealing that the country recorded over 64,000 deaths in 2019 linked to the issue.
Speaking at the launch of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2.0 in Abuja, Pate warned that AMR presents an escalating danger to public health and modern medical practices, putting millions of lives at risk.
During the event, organized by the NCDC in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Pate explained that these fatalities occurred at a time when less than half of Nigeria’s population—42.7 per cent—had access to healthcare services.
