The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), on Friday, reported that between 2022 and 2024, diphtheria, measles, and meningitis have collectively claimed 711 lives.
The Director General of the infectious disease agency, Dr Jide Idris made this known during a press briefing in Abuja.
Dr Idris said Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation has recorded 507 cases of meningitis and 63 deaths since October 2023; and 16,248 cases of diphtheria and 646 deaths since 2022.
He noted that as of the initial five weeks of 2024, the nation documented 516 confirmed cases of measles and two deaths.
“At this period in our country, we are also responding to other disease outbreaks including meningitis (507 cases and 63 deaths in 19 states), measles (915 suspected, 516 confirmed cases with two deaths in 29 states), diphtheria (16,248 cases and 646 deaths in 22 states), and cholera,” he said.
“These statistics recorded are high and totally unacceptable to government. So, safeguarding our health is our collective responsibility.”
Meanwhile, the NCDC boss commended the state governments, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders for responding to the various outbreaks ravaging the nation.
He said; “We sincerely acknowledge and commend the efforts of all the affected state governments including the Federal Capital Territory, the various State Ministries of Health, the numerous health workers, and other stakeholders who have taken charge of these situations in their various states. In the spirit of collaboration, we will continue to support them.
“Health Security, as outlined in the four-point agenda by the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, and which the current administration has considered critical, is a collective responsibility. you, our people also have a crucial role to play in terms of positive health behavior as advised.”