By Nnedinma Okeke
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has alerted schools nationwide to the ongoing diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria, warning that unvaccinated and under vaccinated children remain most at risk.
In an advisory issued on Sept. 13 to school authorities, the agency described diphtheria as a serious and potentially life threatening bacterial disease that spreads easily in crowded settings such as classrooms, stressing that early detection and prompt treatment were critical to preventing severe illness and deaths.
The NPHCDA urged schools to educate teachers, students and parents on the symptoms of the disease, which include sore throat, fever, weakness, swollen neck glands, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and a grayish white membrane in the throat or tonsils.
It advised that any child showing such symptoms be referred immediately to the nearest health facility for assessment and treatment, cautioning schools against delaying referrals or attempting to manage suspected cases internally.
The agency also called on schools to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, including regular handwashing, proper respiratory hygiene, safe disposal of tissues and waste, adequate ventilation in classrooms, routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, and limiting close contact with unwell individuals.
It said sick pupils and staff should stay away from school until cleared by a healthcare professional.
On immunisation, the NPHCDA asked schools to work with parents and caregivers to ensure that children received all vaccines in line with the national schedule, describing vaccination as one of the most effective ways to protect children from diphtheria and other vaccine preventable diseases.
The agency further directed school authorities to promptly report suspected cases to health officials and cooperate with public health teams on contact tracing, vaccination drives and other outbreak response measures.
It also encouraged parents and caregivers to report symptoms early and seek medical care without delay, noting that early detection, prompt treatment, effective infection control and complete childhood immunisation remained key to curbing the spread of diphtheria.
Nnedinma Okeke is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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