Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that 122 people have lost their lives due to a diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria. As of July 2023, 3,850 suspected cases were reported, with 1,387 confirmed cases. The disease has claimed 122 lives, with a case fatality rate of 8.7%. The outbreak has affected mainly Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Lagos, FCT, Sokoto, and Zamfara, with 98.0% of the suspected cases occurring in these states. Only 22% of confirmed cases received routine childhood immunization vaccinations, and the need to reach the unreached is critical. UNICEF Nigeria is collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), affected states, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to plan and operationalize the response. Key interventions include transporting vaccines, training health workers, and providing face masks, hand sanitizers, and antibiotics. UNICEF urges parents and guardians to ensure their children receive routine immunizations to protect them from preventable diseases like diphtheria.