The Federal Government has activated an emergency task force to contain a diphtheria outbreak affecting 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 improving access to timely 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 a multi-agency task force to coordinate the response.
The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of the NCDC and the Director of Public Health, with representatives from NPHCDA, the health ministries 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.
As part of the immediate response, NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano states to support intensified immunisation in affected and high-risk communities.
The task force has also been directed to investigate the outbreak, strengthen surveillance and intensify community awareness campaigns aimed at ensuring that unvaccinated children receive the necessary vaccines.
In Katsina State, the government is expected to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the three senatorial districts—Katsina, Daura and Funtua—to bring treatment closer to affected communities and facilitate early intervention.
Emergency support will also be provided to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, the state’s principal referral centre and a key facility serving neighbouring areas.
The support includes Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, additional medical personnel and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
The task force is expected to submit weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on the progress of the response, emerging challenges and additional requirements, while critical bottlenecks will be escalated for immediate action.
The Federal Government said the coordinated intervention underscores its commitment to protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases and ensuring a swift, evidence-based response to contain the outbreak.
