MSF: Nigeria Facing Unprecedented Diphtheria Outbreak

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) otherwise called Doctors Without Borders has said Nigeria is facing an unprecedented diphtheria outbreak, insisting that this is a crisis that demands urgent attention as approximately 17,000 suspected cases have been reported with nearly 600 recorded deaths with no evidence of the situation abating.

MSF, while describing the situation as dire, noted that the severity of the situation becomes starkly evident when examining the vaccination coverage.

A statement by the body on Tuesday, lamented that in Kano State alone, where nearly 12,000 suspected cases have been reported, around 70% of patients admitted to its facilities were either not fully vaccinated or not vaccinated at all.

According to the statement, this highlights the alarmingly low vaccination rates, especially in the North-west, where coverage ranges from 6% in Sokoto to 10% in Zamfara and 18% in Katsina. 

In the North-east, the situation is equally concerning, with only 15% of diphtheria patients treated at the MSF facility in Gwange Paediatric Hospital in Maiduguri being fully vaccinated. As a point of reference the national average is 36%.

The statement revealed that to combat this outbreak, a vaccination campaign has been launched through a joint effort by the authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF. 

This campaign will be conducted in three phases across 14 states — Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Lagos, Nasarawa, Osun, Plateau and Zamfara.

MSF has been actively responding to the diphtheria outbreak since early 2023. 

“In Kano, we’re supporting two diphtheria treatment centres with a total capacity of 146 beds. Our medical teams are implementing a decentralized strategy in collaboration with local authorities, extending support to various hospitals and health facilities across different local government areas. 

“Simultaneously, we’re conducting health promotion activities to raise awareness among the population,” the statement read.

“The outbreak is not confined to Kano. In Maiduguri, Borno State, we’ve expanded our efforts by establishing a 20-bed diphtheria treatment clinic at the pediatric hospital in Gwange and have already treated 448 patients. Similarly, in Bauchi State, a 20-bed diphtheria treatment centre was established at Ganjuwa Hospital, where 173 patients have received treatment.

“It’s crucial to emphasize that MSF is working in tandem with the Ministry of Health and other international organizations to push for widespread vaccination campaigns across the affected states.

“The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. Your coverage and dissemination of accurate information about the outbreak and vaccination campaigns are pivotal in mobilizing support and resources to curb this crisis,” it said.