According to a statement from UNICEF's Communication Assistant in Nigeria, Nchekwube Nwosu-Igbo, the diphtheria outbreak has inflicted substantial damage, resulting in over 11,500 suspected cases, with more than 7,000 confirmed cases and tragically claiming the lives of 453 individuals, most of whom are children.
Dr. Khan emphasized the critical significance of vaccination, stating, “The devastating impact of this diphtheria outbreak is a grim reminder of the importance of vaccination. Nigeria is home to a staggering 2.2 million children who haven’t received even a single dose of vaccine – the second largest such cohort in the world. We must collectively take urgent actions to drastically reduce this number. Every child deserves protection from preventable diseases. This is not negotiable.”
UNICEF has issued a call to action directed at partners, stakeholders, and the international community, urging them to join forces to ensure that every child in Nigeria receives the necessary vaccinations.
In light of the most severe diphtheria outbreak in recent global history, UNICEF Nigeria is drawing attention to the urgent need for widespread vaccination. Alarmingly, most of the affected cases involve children aged between 4 and 15 years who have never received a single dose of the crucial vaccine, underscoring the urgency of the vaccination situation in Nigeria.
UNICEF is actively supporting the Nigerian government in its efforts to combat the outbreak. This assistance includes the procurement of vaccines to bolster the government's response. To date, on behalf of the government, UNICEF has deployed 9.3 million doses of diphtheria vaccines to affected states, including Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa. Of these, 4 million doses have been dispatched to Kano, the epicenter of the outbreak. An additional 4 million doses of vaccines are in the procurement pipeline and will soon be handed over to the government.
UNICEF Nigeria has called upon partners, stakeholders, and the international community to unite in the mission to ensure that every child in Nigeria receives life-saving vaccines.
