The Edo State Government, yesterday stated that 15 suspected cases of Diphtheria disease have been reported with six infected while three people were reported dead.

The state is also responding proactively to emerging health concerns. In the wake of the recent diphtheria outbreak.

Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole stated this while launching the ‘Rural Healthcare Initiative’.

Oshiomhole disclosed that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), has launched a statewide surveillance and vaccination campaign.

“We are not waiting for numbers to escalate before taking action, the Health Commissioner stated. We are actively educating communities, administering booster doses, and prioritising early intervention. Diphtheria is vaccine-preventable, and we are doing everything to ensure people understand this,” he said.

Despite challenges such as vaccine misinformation and logistical bottlenecks, the state’s commitment remains firm.

“We are not making pronouncements from air-conditioned offices. We are in the field, sitting with people, countering myths with facts,” Oshiomhole stated.

According to the commissioner, the administration has set in motion one of the most robust and inclusive health reforms in the history of the state.

“We understand that the government cannot do everything alone, but when the privileged help to insure the vulnerable, especially through our diaspora networks, we move closer to achieving near-total health coverage,” he stated.

At the heart of this new direction is a grassroots-driven health insurance model that extends subsidised medical plans to rural dwellers who previously lacked access to even the most basic healthcare services. These plans are designed not as charity but as ‘sustainable social investments’ that will serve as the financial foundation for revitalising primary healthcare centres across the state.

Oshiomhole disclosed that, with a vibrant and well-funded health insurance scheme, we can fix our healthcare infrastructure and ensure these facilities are operational, well-staffed, and accountable.