By Hosea Parah, Abuja

UNICEF Nigeria is raising the alarm on the urgent need for widespread vaccination amidst the severe diphtheria outbreak in Abuja, Nigeria. With over 11,500 suspected cases and 7,000 confirmed cases, the outbreak has claimed the lives of 453 people, primarily children. The majority of cases involve children aged 4 to 15 who have not received any vaccination.

UNICEF is actively supporting the Nigerian government’s efforts to combat the outbreak, including the procurement of vaccines. To date, UNICEF has provided 9.3 million doses of diphtheria vaccines to affected states, with 4 million doses dispatched to the epicenter of the outbreak, Kano. An additional 4 million doses are being procured and will be handed over to the government soon.

Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF Representative a.i., stressed the importance of vaccination, highlighting Nigeria’s 2.2 million unvaccinated children, the second-largest number globally. Urgent action is needed to reduce this number and protect every child from preventable diseases.

UNICEF Nigeria is calling on partners, stakeholders, and the international community to join forces to ensure that every child in Nigeria receives life-saving vaccines. They emphasize the significance of strengthening routine immunization, community engagement, and health systems to prevent future outbreaks.

To effectively respond to the current outbreak, UNICEF Nigeria requires an additional $3.3 million by the year’s end.