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Over 80% Of Children With Diphtheria Never Received Routine Immunizations, Says NPHCDA
Diphtheria is unrelated to COVID-19, highlighting the difference between the two diseases: diphtheria is bacterial, whereas COVID-19 is viral.
Kano, Nigeria – Dr Faisal Shu’aib, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has revealed that over 80% of children who have succumbed to diphtheria or have been hospitalized due to the disease had never received routine childhood immunizations.
Dr Shu’aib made this declaration during his visit to the Diphtheria Treatment Centre at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano on Wednesday.
In a bid to raise awareness and curb the increasing diphtheria cases in Nigeria, Dr Shu’aib urgently called on parents to ensure their children are up to date with their vaccines. He also urged caregivers to maintain personal and environmental hygiene and to avoid crowded spaces to mitigate the spread of the disease.
“I implore every parent and caregiver to take proactive measures to protect their loved ones. Immunization is the most effective safeguard against diphtheria,” emphasized Dr. Shu’aib.
He further advised people at higher risk of contracting diphtheria to get vaccinated immediately. While addressing the public’s concerns about vaccination mandates, Dr. Shu’aib assured the public that inoculations would not be mandatory, but rather encouraged as a protective measure.
Diphtheria, a bacterial infection caused by the corynebacterium species, primarily affects the nose, throat, and, occasionally, the skin. Symptoms of diphtheria include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty in breathing.
The NPHCDA director acknowledged the significant impact of diphtheria in Nigeria, with more than 14,000 reported cases of the disease. The states primarily responsible for 97% of these cases are Kano, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, and Jigawa.
Despite the challenges posed by the disease, Dr Shu’aib expressed satisfaction with the commitment of state governments to improving the quality of healthcare.
He also clarified that diphtheria is unrelated to COVID-19, highlighting the difference between the two diseases: diphtheria is bacterial, whereas COVID-19 is viral.
Some symptoms of diphtheria include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling and difficulty in breathing.
