FG Sends 500,000 Diphtheria Vaccine Doses to Katsina, Kano

The Federal Government of Nigeria has deployed 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines to Katsina and Kano states in response to an outbreak affecting children. This initiative was announced in a press release signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, on a Friday.

The directive came from Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency is responsible for deploying the vaccines to support immunization efforts in at-risk communities.

An emergency task force has been established by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, state governments, and international health partners. The task force will focus on outbreak containment, treatment access, and referral care, including establishing treatment annexes in Katsina's three senatorial districts.

The Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, will receive urgent support, including Diphtheria Antitoxin and additional clinical personnel. The task force will provide weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister.