Grandmother Loses Two Grandchildren to Diphtheria Outbreak

Fatimatu, a resident of Bauchi Road, recounted the tragic loss of her two grandchildren, 14-year-old Umar Muktar and 17-year-old Hauwa Shafi’u, to diphtheria within one week. Umar fell ill first and died within three to four days without a proper diagnosis.

Two days after his death, Hauwa exhibited similar symptoms and was taken to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), where she was confirmed to have diphtheria but could not be saved. The family initially did not recognize the illness, which began with sore throats and quickly worsened.

Shafi’u Abdullahi, Hauwa's father, expressed profound grief over the loss of his daughter, who was a promising student. In response to the outbreak, affected families have been vaccinated, and state authorities are increasing awareness campaigns to encourage residents to report symptoms early.

The Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina is experiencing overwhelming pressure due to the rising number of diphtheria cases, prompting the establishment of additional isolation centers to manage the influx of patients.