?The Federal Government has activated a multi-agency emergency task force to contain a diphtheria outbreak affecting children in Katsina and Kano States.
The directive, issued by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, outlines immediate interventions to strengthen disease surveillance, close immunization gaps, and ensure rapid access to medical treatment.
?Co-chaired by the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Director of Public Health, the newly formed body unites key health institutions, international partners, and state officials.
Members include representatives from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Health Commissioners of Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, and Sokoto States, alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State.
?The task force is executing immediate action across three primary fronts:
?Outbreak Containment & Immunization: Conducting field investigations, intensifying community sensitization, and strengthening surveillance.
To bridge critical immunity gaps, NPHCDA has dispatched 500,000 vaccine doses to Katsina and Kano States for targeted immunization drives.
?Expanded Treatment Access: Collaborating with the Katsina State Government to set up specialized treatment annexes across its three senatorial districts—Katsina, Daura, and Funtua—bringing localized care closer to affected communities.
?Emergency Referral Support: Mobilizing critical supplies to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina, the region's main referral center. Resources being deployed include Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, personal protective equipment (PPE), and extra clinical personnel.
?The task force will submit weekly progress reports to Prof. Pate to resolve emerging operational bottlenecks swiftly. Through this coordinated response, the Federal Government reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding Nigerian children against vaccine-preventable diseases and halting the spread of the outbreak.
