A diphtheria outbreak in Niger State’s Agaie and Bida Local Government Areas has claimed the lives of at least 10 children, sparking widespread fear and prompting calls for urgent government intervention.
The outbreak, which has continued to spread, primarily affects children, with reports indicating that the victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Bida but died due to a shortage of essential drugs.
Residents and health workers are sounding the alarm, pleading with the state government to provide necessary medication to curb the spread of the disease.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Health Care, Dr. Mohammed Gana, confirmed the outbreak and attributed the high death toll to some parents’ refusal to vaccinate their children.
He assured that the government, with support from health partners, is working to contain the situation and provide necessary medication, emphasizing that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease.
The situation highlights the importance of vaccination and timely medical intervention in preventing the spread of infectious diseases like diphtheria.
