The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over the unprecedented Diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria and has issued an urgent call for widespread vaccination.
The children’s agency made this known in a press statement published on its official website, on Tuesday.
This development comes on the heels of recently released data by the Federal Government of Nigeria, indicating a total of 7,202 confirmed cases out of 11,587 suspected cases, spanning 105 Local Government Areas in 18 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The data underscores that children aged 1 to 14 years are bearing the brunt of this outbreak, with the age group of 5 to 14 experiencing the highest number of cases.
The press statement highlights that UNICEF is promptly extending its support to the Nigerian government’s response to the outbreak, which notably encompasses the procurement of vaccines.
It further reveals that UNICEF has already deployed a substantial 9.3 million doses of diphtheria vaccines to the affected states, encompassing Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa. Among these, a significant allocation of 4 million doses has been dispatched to Kano, the epicenter of the outbreak. An additional procurement of 4 million doses of vaccines is currently in progress and will be handed over to the government in the ensuing weeks.
While urging partners, stakeholders, and the international community to join forces in ensuring that every child in Nigeria receives life-saving vaccines, the statement underscores the critical importance of reinforcing routine immunization, fostering community engagement, and fortifying healthcare systems to avert future outbreaks of a similar nature.
Dr. Rownak Khan, a UNICEF representative, characterized the devastating impact of the diphtheria outbreak as a poignant reminder of the utmost significance of vaccination.
Dr. Khan pointed out that, “Nigeria is home to an astonishing 2.2 million children who have not received even a single vaccine dose, ranking second globally in this concerning category. It is imperative that we collectively take swift and decisive measures to significantly diminish this staggering number. Ensuring protection from preventable diseases for every child is a non-negotiable imperative.”
UNICEF Nigeria also stated that to respond effectively to the outbreak, it needs to raise an additional US$ 3.3 million until the end of the year.