Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, has emphasised the risks of tetanus and diphtheria to pregnant women, urging the urgent need for immunisation.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, Aina stated that recent cases have shown a direct correlation between these infections and the loss of unborn babies, prompting a call for immediate action.
He expressed concern that tetanus and diphtheria were resurfacing and had the potential to catch many off guard due to their silent nature. Stating, “Contrary to concerns, tetanus and diphtheria immunizations have proven to be safe, with negligible risks compared to the severe consequences of the infection.”
According to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), there were 230 suspected cases of tetanus and diphtheria in Week 48, 2023, across six states and 28 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Of these, 190 were confirmed cases with two recorded deaths, indicating a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 1.1 per cent. From Week 19, 2022, to Week 48, 2023, 20,684 suspected cases were reported in 33 states and 280 LGAs.
It also revealed that Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa accounted for 96.9 per cent of suspected cases, with 69.4 of 12,086 confirmed cases in children aged one to 14 years.
