Mirian Gom 
ABUJA – The Federal Government has deployed 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines to Kano and Katsina states while activating an emergency multi-agency task force to contain the ongoing outbreak affecting children in northern Nigeria.
The intervention was announced on Friday in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.
According to the ministry, the response followed a directive by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, aimed at strengthening disease surveillance, expanding treatment capacity and improving immunisation coverage in affected communities.
The ministry said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) had already delivered the vaccine doses to support intensified vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas.
An emergency task force comprising the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), NPHCDA, affected state governments and international health partners has also been activated.
The task force has been directed to focus on three priority areas: outbreak containment through intensified immunisation, expanded access to treatment and emergency support for referral hospitals.
As part of the containment strategy, health officials will conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen surveillance systems and intensify community awareness campaigns to close immunisation gaps among unvaccinated children.
The Federal Government also directed the Katsina State Government to establish treatment annexes across the state’s three senatorial districts—Katsina, Daura and Funtua—to improve access to prompt medical care.
According to the ministry, bringing treatment centres closer to communities will facilitate early diagnosis and reduce complications associated with the disease.
The Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, identified as the state’s principal referral centre, will receive additional support, including supplies of Diphtheria Antitoxin, intravenous antibiotics, personal protective equipment and additional clinical personnel.
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Otamere Gladness 
Oluwafunbi Bello