The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that Nigeria is set to receive delivery of 1,800 vials of diphtheria antitoxin on August 2.
This move comes as part of an effort to combat the bacterial infection caused by the corynebacterium species, which affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin of individuals.
Diphtheria presents various symptoms, including fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty breathing. In light of this, the delivery of diphtheria antitoxin is seen as a crucial measure in saving lives and reducing complications in affected patients.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Walter Mulombo, WHO country representative, said Nigeria will also receive erythromycin IV in two weeks, pending government authorisation. “These health commodities are essential for saving lives and reducing the sequelae in the affected patients, thus need to be prepositioned in Nigeria and ready to be deployed to the states in need,” he said.
According to Mulombo, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had requested WHO procure these medical supplies to manage diphtheria cases in the country.
To further aid in the fight against diphtheria, a combination of the Nigeria field epidemiology and laboratory training programme workforce and the WHO team is currently present in Yobe and Kano states. Their mission is to enhance surveillance at health facilities and community levels, ensuring prompt response to potential cases.
Additionally, the WHO supports the procurement of laboratory commodities to decrease the result turnaround time. This is crucial in facilitating early-stage case definition and management, ultimately contributing to a more effective response to diphtheria outbreaks.
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