According to UNICEF, 60.8% of diphtheria cases that have been reported have involved children under the age of five.
This was said by Rahama Mohammed Farah, the head of UNICEF’s Kano field office, at a Tuesday media briefing on the diphtheria outbreak in Kano.
According to Farah, Nigeria is currently dealing with a dangerous outbreak of diphtheria following a recent spike in the number of cases.
According to him, Kano had the greatest cumulative number of diphtheria cases, at around 5,800, accounting for 80% of all cases reported in Nigeria.
According to Rahama, the diphtheria sickness has spread to 39 out of the 44 LGAs in Kano State, with the eight worst-affected LGAs.
Nassarawa (538), Kano Municipal (506) and Ungogo (2651), Dala (989), Fagge (943), Gwale (714), Kumbotso (713),
Tarauni (269).
He claimed that due to the huge quantity of zero-dose vaccinations, 60.8% of people in the state who are impacted are children.
Children who haven’t received even one dose are in a critical position that must be addressed immediately.
addressed”
The urgent necessity to address the issue of zero-dose children in Nigeria generally and Kano state in particular is reinforced by this very evident evidence.
However, the present diphtheria outbreak poses a risk to children’s health, well-being, and chances of survival.
According to Rahama, UNICEF is working with the government and other partners to respond to the situation and save the lives of the affected children.
