The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) revealed that six states in Nigeria account for a staggering 97% of all reported diphtheria cases in the country. Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Director General of NPHCDA, disclosed this information during the Diphtheria Outbreak Response briefing held in Abuja. The states identified are Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi.
Dr. Shuaib emphasized that Kano bears the highest burden, contributing over 84% of the reported cases and serving as the epicenter of the outbreak. He expressed concern over the impact of diphtheria on communities, particularly children, referring to them as “our most vulnerable citizens.”
In response to the outbreak, NPHCDA launched rapid and comprehensive vaccination campaigns in the affected regions. Kano, being the epicenter, witnessed rounds one and two of the vaccination campaign in five high-burden local government areas in February and April 2023, respectively. Round three was integrated into routine immunization intensification, and additional eight local government areas in Kano underwent reactive vaccination exercises in August.
Dr. Shuaib stressed the crucial role of vaccination in the battle against diphtheria and highlighted the disproportionate burden on young individuals, with over 73% of cases occurring in children aged one to 14 years. He noted that only about 18% of those affected had received any vaccinations.
The NPHCDA shared vaccination figures from the phase one response conducted in August 2023, indicating the significant number of children reached in various states, including Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Yobe. These efforts aim to curb the spread of the preventable disease and protect the vulnerable population.
