Nigeria TV Info

Govt Launches Mass Vaccination to Contain Diphtheria Outbreak in Niger

The Niger State Government has launched an emergency mass vaccination and public-awareness campaign following the outbreak of diphtheria, which has already claimed the lives of at least 10 children.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Health, Dr. Mohammed Gana, confirmed the deaths in Bida Local Government Area. He blamed the rising toll on parents’ refusal to vaccinate their children, warning that the situation could worsen if urgent action was not taken.

“We have lost 10 children so far in Bida alone. This could have been prevented if parents had accepted routine immunisation,” Dr. Gana stated.

Reports also indicate that some communities in Lapai and Agaie Local Government Areas have recorded additional deaths since the outbreak began.

Health officials say the vaccination exercise will be intensified across affected communities, alongside sensitisation campaigns to encourage parents to embrace immunisation as a life-saving measure.