Diphtheria Outbreak: 11 die in days as Niger records 124 cases

No fewer than 11 people have died from diphtheria in Niger State within the past few days, raising fresh concerns over the spread of the potentially deadly disease in Chanchaga and Katcha Local Government Areas.

The latest fatalities are part of the 17 deaths recorded from 124 confirmed diphtheria cases in the state between January and early August.

The Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, NSPHCDA, said 74 patients have so far been treated and discharged from focal areas in Bida and Agaie Local Government Areas, while surveillance has been stepped up in Suleja.

Executive Director of the agency, Dr Junaidu Inuwa, blamed part of the rising casualty rate on the failure of some parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated.

Inuwa spoke in Minna during a two-day capacity-building workshop for Ward Development Committees, WDCs, on Community Engagement and Accountability to Affected Population, organised by the NSPHCDA in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

He said the current outbreak in Chanchaga and Katcha requires stronger community mobilisation, particularly as vaccination remained one of the key measures for preventing diphtheria.

“In most cases, parents are not immunising their children and the community structure needs to do a lot for us,” he noted.

Giving an insight into the latest deaths, Inuwa stated, “I am sure most of you are aware that recently we have had an outbreak of some diseases in Chanchaga and Katcha LGAs. There are 10 cases, and all of them died. We even lost another patient on Tuesday at the General Hospital, Minna.”

He urged WDC members to take the campaign against vaccine hesitancy to the grassroots, particularly among women and mothers, and ensure that children are taken for routine immunisation.

The agency’s boss also charged the committees to prioritise early childhood education and strengthen community participation in disease prevention.

Also speaking, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Specialist, Kaduna Field Office, Ibrahim Mohammed, said the training was designed to strengthen the capacity of WDCs to support communities in health, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, child protection and education.

According to him, “We are looking at an integrative approach to healthcare services across the community.”