Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Lagos State Government has swiftly responded to the recent diphtheria outbreak at King’s College Annexe, Victoria Island, by commencing an emergency vaccination exercise. The exercise aims to protect students, staff, and the wider school community while reinforcing public health measures to prevent further infections.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, “We were very concerned about what’s going on at King’s College Annexe – an outbreak of diphtheria fever that has been ongoing for about 10 days. Unfortunately, the first case led to a tragic loss.”
Prof. Abayomi emphasized the importance of proper spacing between students, improved airflow in classrooms and dormitories, and enhanced access to clean water to halt the transmission of diphtheria.
“This disease thrives in crowded environments with poor ventilation. We have spoken with the school authorities to ensure… improvements to sanitary conditions to reduce the chances of bacterial transmission,” he explained.
The emergency vaccination campaign targets students with parental consent and all staff members, as “normally, every child is vaccinated against diphtheria as part of routine immunization, but over time, immunity can weaken.”
The Lagos State Government is working closely with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other agencies to manage the outbreak.
Prof. Abayomi reassured parents and students that mild reactions to the vaccine are normal and expected, and that medical staff are on hand to monitor and manage any reactions.
The government has also intensified awareness campaigns to educate the public on the signs and symptoms of diphtheria, urging everyone to adhere to public health guidelines and get vaccinated.
