• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Thursday, September 18, 2025
  • Login
Vital News
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
Vital News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Worsening Diphtheria Outbreak In Nigeria, MSF Calls For International Support

Vital News by Vital News
September 19, 2023
in Health
0
Worsening Diphtheria Outbreak In Nigeria, MSF Calls For International Support
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

 

An international, independent medical humanitarian organisation,  Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) popularly known as “Doctors Without Borders” on Monday called on the international community to immediately scale up support for treatment of diphtheria in Nigeria.

MSF which made call in a statement said there is need to improve treatment, preventive measures and contact tracing to control the spread of diphtheria in Nigeria.

The statement reads : “A serious diphtheria outbreak is tearing through Nigeria, where thousands of people have been infected and hundreds more have died.

“With low national vaccination coverage and a worldwide shortage of lifesaving antitoxin threatening to worsen the outbreak.

RelatedStories

Anti-graft Group, YPU, Decries Disrepair State Of Hospitals, Roads In Yobe In spite Alleged Release Of N1 trillion

BHPF : President Tinubu Approves Immediate Release Of N29,284,145,353.78 To 36 States,FCT

KB Klub Holds Largest Blood Donation Drive, Raises 500pints Of Blood In Lagos

PCN Okays Online Sales Of Drugs, Starts Issuance Of Licenses To Individuals, Facilities

“Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) urges the international community to immediately scale up support to improve treatment, preventive measures and contact tracing to control the outbreak’s spread.”

MSF emergency project medical doctor, Dr Hashim Juma Omar was quoted to have said: “We’re currently seeing more than 700 people with suspected diphtheria and admitting more than 280 patients on a weekly basis in Kano state’s two diphtheria treatment centres,”

He added that : “Women and children aged under five are the most vulnerable groups and are the people most affected right now in Kano state. And they really need help.”

The statement said diphtheria is a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial disease which can present in respiratory or cutaneous forms.

“Without treatment, it can kill half of people infected; even with treatment, the disease is still fatal in five per cent of patients.

Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control has declared an outbreak of the disease on 20 January 2023; between May 2022 and early September 2023, over 6,000 confirmed cases were recorded.

Around 4,000 suspected cases were recorded in the country in August 2023 alone, with over three-quarters coming from Kano state.

MSF teams are responding to the outbreak in Kano, Borno and Bauchi states.

However, responding to the outbreak has proved challenging, due to a worldwide shortage of lifesaving diphtheria antitoxin used in treatment, caused by dwindling production capacity.

Omar said: “While we provided 2,000 doses of diphtheria antitoxin last month in Kano, securing doses of the antitoxin has been one of the biggest challenges in this crisis,” noting that: “We have placed an urgent additional order of 5,000 doses to cover the needs in our projects, but still, it is not enough.”

He said in light of these challenges, improved efforts to reduce the disease’s transmission and to strengthen outbreak preparation and response in Nigeria are crucial.

“This includes vaccination; underlying the outbreak is a low vaccination rate, with only 70 per cent of children having received their first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine.

“The decline in immunization led to a reported 25 million un- or under-vaccinated children in Nigeria in 2021.

“However, funding for vaccines and implementation costs remains a barrier to scaling up; with Kano State alone requiring millions of doses to target at-risk groups.”

The statement added that in addition to urgent antitoxin and vaccination needs, “we urge international organisations to immediately scale up improved surveillance and contact tracing, and measures to strengthen the local health system.

” In Maiduguri, Borno State, we have added a 20-bed diphtheria treatment clinic to our paediatric hospital in Gwange III PHC, where over 110 people have been treated by our teams since January.

“In Kano state, our teams have seen 6,707 people with suspected or confirmed cases of the disease since January, working in treatment centres with a total bed capacity of 147.

“In Bauchi state, where we have already treated 21 cases with diphtheria during our usual medical activities in Ganjuwa, we are monitoring the situation there and in Jama’are, and are ready to start diphtheria-specific activities based on the needs.

‘Our teams are also responding to diphtheria in neighbouring countries. In mid-August, we started supporting the Ministry of Health in Guinea, where we work in an epidemic diseases treatment centre in Siguiri prefecture.

“More than 100 people have been admitted since the start of our activities.

“In collaboration with the Nigerien Ministry of Health, our teams conducted a first-round of a preventive vaccination campaign in Kantché and Amsoudou health areas in early September, vaccinating nearly 48,500 people.

“A second round of vaccinations will take place in early October.

“The number of suspected cases in other countries in the region adds to the urgency of increasing access to antitoxin drugs and vaccination initiatives.”  (vitalnewsngr.com)

Tags: BauchiBornoDiptheriaKano
Previous Post

At Induction Of New Graduate Trainees, Aliko Dangote Says Youth Employment Is Key To Growth, Development

Next Post

Katsina Governor Hails Army Over Improved Security, Pledges Support

Vital News

Vital News

RelatedStories

Anti-graft Group, YPU, Decries Disrepair State Of Hospitals, Roads In Yobe In spite Alleged Release Of N1 trillion
Crime

Anti-graft Group, YPU, Decries Disrepair State Of Hospitals, Roads In Yobe In spite Alleged Release Of N1 trillion

September 16, 2025
BHPF : President Tinubu Approves Immediate Release Of N29,284,145,353.78 To 36 States,FCT
Health

BHPF : President Tinubu Approves Immediate Release Of N29,284,145,353.78 To 36 States,FCT

September 9, 2025
KB Klub Holds Largest Blood Donation Drive, Raises 500pints Of Blood In Lagos
Health

KB Klub Holds Largest Blood Donation Drive, Raises 500pints Of Blood In Lagos

August 22, 2025
PCN Okays Online Sales Of Drugs, Starts Issuance Of Licenses To Individuals, Facilities
Health

PCN Okays Online Sales Of Drugs, Starts Issuance Of Licenses To Individuals, Facilities

August 14, 2025
Immunization, Vaccination Campaigns Under Threat In Taraba Over Non Payment Of Salaries Of 450 CHEW Workers
Health

Immunization, Vaccination Campaigns Under Threat In Taraba Over Non Payment Of Salaries Of 450 CHEW Workers

August 13, 2025
Next Post
Katsina Governor Hails Army Over Improved Security, Pledges Support

Katsina Governor Hails Army Over Improved Security, Pledges Support

Ijebu East Councillors Impeach Suspended Chairman, Wale Adedayo  .

We Must Instil Discipline In APC - Gov. Abiodun

The Suspension of Wale Adedayo, Suspended Chairman, Ijebu East Local Government : What You Should Know  by Hon Fasheyi Adesuji Akindele

Ogun Debunks Allegation Of Threat To Life By Wale Adedayo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Recommended

Okefun Chisom Arrested Over Links With Pakistani Cocaine Syndicate

3 years ago
Niger Coup : Tinubu Canvasses Dialogue To Resolve Impasse At ECOWAS Leaders’ Meeting In Abuja

Niger Coup : Tinubu Canvasses Dialogue To Resolve Impasse At ECOWAS Leaders’ Meeting In Abuja

2 years ago
Saudi Arabia Deports 167 Nigerians

Saudi Arabia Deports 167 Nigerians

2 years ago
Emirship Tussle : Kano Government Bans Public Protest, Demonstration

Violence : Yusuf Imposes 24-hour Curfew On Kano

1 year ago

Instagram

    Please install/update and activate JNews Instagram plugin.

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

Topics

Abiodun Abuja APC arrest Atiku Bandits Bello Benue Buhari CBN cement Court Dangote death dies drugs Economy EFCC Election elections FG gunmen Hajj INEC Kano kidnap Kill Kogi Kwara Lagos NDLEA Niger Nigeria Ododo Ogun Oyo PDP Police Power refinery rescue road Security students Tinubu
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Tinubu Lifts Emergency Rule In Rivers, Fubara, Deputy, Speaker Resume Tomorrow, September 18

Kidnappers Release Kogi Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ezeamba

Our CNG Drivers Enjoy Life Insurance, Housing Loans, Earn Three Times The Minimum Wage – Dangote Refinery

President Tinubu Returns To Abuja

Anti-graft Group, YPU, Decries Disrepair State Of Hospitals, Roads In Yobe In spite Alleged Release Of N1 trillion

Your Allegation Of Cheaper Petrol Sales In Togo Misleading, Inaccurate – Dangote Refinery To DAPPMAN

Trending

FAAC Shares N2.22 trillion August 2025 Revenue Among Federal, States, Local Governments
Economy

FAAC Shares N2.22 trillion August 2025 Revenue Among Federal, States, Local Governments

by Vital News
September 18, 2025
0

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursement N2.22 trillion August 2025, revenue to the three tiers...

Dangote Cement, Jakura Community, Sign Landmark Development Agreement In Kogi

Dangote Cement, Jakura Community, Sign Landmark Development Agreement In Kogi

September 17, 2025
GSF Publisher, Lawal Sale, Bags Silk Road Global News Award In China

GSF Publisher, Lawal Sale, Bags Silk Road Global News Award In China

September 17, 2025
BHPF : President Tinubu Approves Immediate Release Of N29,284,145,353.78 To 36 States,FCT

Tinubu Lifts Emergency Rule In Rivers, Fubara, Deputy, Speaker Resume Tomorrow, September 18

September 17, 2025
Catholic Priest Kidnapped In Kogi

Kidnappers Release Kogi Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ezeamba

September 17, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Vital News

Vital News is an online newspaper with a mission to uphold professional journalism by reporting and publishing only facts and figures-based news reports across Nigeria and beyond.

Recent News

  • FAAC Shares N2.22 trillion August 2025 Revenue Among Federal, States, Local Governments September 18, 2025
  • Dangote Cement, Jakura Community, Sign Landmark Development Agreement In Kogi September 17, 2025
  • GSF Publisher, Lawal Sale, Bags Silk Road Global News Award In China September 17, 2025

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

© 2022 Vital News - . All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security

© 2022 Vital News - Vital News by Vital News.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In