Edo State is currently facing a growing diphtheria outbreak, with rising numbers of suspected cases and growing concerns over the availability of vaccines to fight the disease.
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital has reportedly become overwhelmed, as patients suspected to have diphtheria continue to arrive from different parts of the state. Medical staff say the situation is becoming more difficult to manage due to the number of referrals.
A medical officer at the hospital, who requested anonymity, confirmed to the media that the hospital is under serious pressure. While the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, has not confirmed the number of deaths, hospital workers say more people have died in the last few days, following an earlier report of two deaths last week.
Efforts to get a response from UBTH’s spokesperson, Uwaila Joshua, were not successful, as his phone was switched off.
In response to the growing crisis, Governor Monday Okpebholo has taken urgent steps to stop the disease from spreading further. His Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said the governor has put hospitals on high alert and is personally supervising the response efforts.
“Hospitals across the state have been placed on high alert and instructed to intensify case detection, prompt isolation, and proper clinical management of suspected cases in accordance with national and international guidelines,” Itua said.
He also explained that medical workers are being trained and supported to respond properly, while the state’s disease surveillance system is being widened to track and monitor new contacts quickly.
Governor Okpebholo has also called for an emergency meeting involving the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, World Health Organisation, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and other partners. The goal, according to the state, is to work together and strengthen the plan to stop the disease from spreading further.
As the state tries to contain the outbreak, there are growing fears that the shortage of vaccines could make the fight against diphtheria even harder.
