NOA Sensitises Enugu Residents On Diphtheria
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Enugu State Directorate, has commenced a state-wide community sensitisation in response to the recent outbreak of diphtheria in the state.
The state Director, Mrs. Clara Nwachukwu, who confirmed that Enugu recorded a confirmed case of diphtheria in March 2025 involving a six-year-old girl, said community orientation and mobilisation officers across the 17 local government areas of the state have been deployed to raise awareness about diphtheria symptoms, importance of immunisation and the need for early presentation at healthcare facilities.
She further explained that diphtheria is a highly contagious, but is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the exotoxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
She added that the disease spreads primarily through direct contact or via respiratory droplets in the air.
Nwachukwu also pointed out that even as individuals of any age who are unvaccinated remain at risk, children under five years are more vulnerable to severe complications, stressing that the 5–14-year-old age group often bears the greatest disease burden.
She emphasised that the children should be protected by ensuring that they receive all recommended vaccines.
According to her, “The Pentavalent vaccine, for example, safeguards against five life-threatening diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B.”
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Okechukwu Ogbodo, who also confirmed the diphtheria case involving the young girl from Enugu North, said the girl was treated at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla.
Ogbodo stressed the importance of early detection and prompt treatment to prevent fatalities. He explained that diphtheria is treatable when identified early, but late presentation can be deadly, as seen in past outbreaks in other states.
THE WHISTLER reported that a diphtheria outbreak at King’s College Lagos, in March, resulted in the death of a junior student of the school, with several others hospitalised on suspected cases.
The outbreak was also reported in multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs), with Eti-Osa being the most affected, recording 44 suspected cases.
Also, the resurgence of diphtheria in Tukur-Tukur Community of Zaria, Kaduna State, resulted to tragic loss of two children within 48 hours as reported by the community leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, on May 4, 2025.
Additionally, the Imo State government in late May had shut down schools following a diphtheria outbreak in Mbutu Community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the State, which has led to the death of several children.
According to WHO, UNICEF, and NCDC, the best preventive measure for diphtheria is immunisation with the Pentavalent or TD vaccine. Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria provides free, safe, and effective vaccines at all Primary Healthcare Centres nationwide.
NOA Sensitises Enugu Residents On Diphtheria is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
