In response to a rising health threat, the Edo State Government on Monday delivered 70 doses of anti-diphtheria vaccines to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) following the death of two individuals from the disease last week.
Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, the state’s Commissioner for Health, made the announcement after officially handing over the vaccines to the hospital. He revealed that an additional 20 doses had been sourced from the Delta State Ministry of Health, underlining the urgency of the situation.
“We are collaborating closely with UBTH and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The Director-General of the NCDC responded swiftly and released 70 doses of the anti-diphtheria vaccine,” Oshiomhole said.
However, the commissioner expressed concern over the disease’s unusual spread pattern. He noted that even fully vaccinated individuals, including teenagers and adults over age five, are falling ill — a development that goes against earlier medical expectations.
“We’re trying to understand how someone who is 14 years old and fully immunised is still infected,” he stated.
Urgent Measures in Place
To combat the outbreak, the state government is seeking clearance from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to extend vaccinations to children above five years — and potentially adults, including healthcare workers.
Oshiomhole also disclosed that Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the donation of hospital beds, medical equipment, and possibly the offsetting of medical bills for diphtheria patients currently receiving care at UBTH.
Receiving the state health team, Prof. Stanley Okugbo, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at UBTH, and Dr. Fidelis Eki-Udoko, Deputy Chairman and Consultant in charge of Children Emergency, thanked the government for its swift intervention.
“All patients diagnosed with diphtheria are responding well to treatment,” Dr. Eki-Udoko said, while urging the public to report early symptoms to curb the spread.
Public Health Alert
The situation in Edo raises growing concerns about the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and the possible need for expanded immunisation coverage in the face of evolving strains or waning immunity.
Health officials are calling on residents to remain vigilant, report any suspicious symptoms promptly, and follow public health guidelines as efforts to contain the outbreak intensify.
