Gom Mirian and Juliet Ochenje
In response to a mounting outbreak of diphtheria affecting children across 27 states in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has intensified its efforts to contain and prevent the spread of the disease.
With a reported 3,850 suspected cases as at July 2023, of which 1,387 have been confirmed as diphtheria, the situation demands urgent action, said UNICEF.
To combat the outbreak, UNICEF in a statement made available to Africa Health correspondent in Abuja on Thursday night, stated that it is closely collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the affected States and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) by providing technical support to plan and operationalise the response.
Ms Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said “it’s heartbreaking to note that only 22 % of the confirmed cases received their routine childhood immunisation vaccinations,” adding thag “most of these affected children, especially those who unfortunately passed away, had not received a single dose of the vaccine.”
She continued: “We now urgently need to catch up. These ‘zero-dose’ children, those who haven’t received a single dose of vaccine, are a primary concern.
“In light of these sobering statistics, UNICEF Nigeria urges all parents and guardians to ensure their children receive routine immunisations to protect them from preventable diseases like diphtheria. The agency will continue to intensify efforts to address the ongoing outbreak and work alongside the government to achieve a healthier, safer future for every Nigerian child.”
