“Health Crisis In Niger: 10 Children Dead As Diphtheria Spreads Rapidly”

At least 10 children have died following a diphtheria outbreak in Niger State, prompting the government to initiate an emergency mass vaccination and public-awareness campaign.

Dr. Mohammed Gana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Health, confirmed the fatalities in Bida Local Government Area, attributing the high death toll to parental refusal to vaccinate their children. Reports indicate that additional deaths have been recorded in communities across Lapai and Agaie since the outbreak began.

Affected children were admitted to the Federal Medical Centre in Bida; however, a shortage of essential drugs hampered treatment, contributing to the fatalities.

In a statement, Dr. Ibrahim Idris, Director of Public Health at the state Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, said the ministry is collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, SYDANY Group, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to contain the outbreak.

Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to detect, treat, and follow up on cases, while mass vaccination campaigns have commenced in Bida and surrounding communities, prioritizing children most at risk.

The ministry emphasized that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable bacterial disease that can cause fever, sore throat, cough, and in severe cases, life-threatening airway obstruction. Officials stressed that even a single death from a preventable disease is one too many.

To address misinformation, radio broadcasts in English, Hausa, and Nupe are airing on Radio Nigeria Power FM Bida. Religious leaders, traditional rulers, and town announcers are also engaging communities to encourage vaccine acceptance.

Authorities have urged parents and guardians to take their children to Primary Health Care centers, where immunization is free, safe, and widely available, in order to prevent further spread of the disease.