By: Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
The Niger State Ministries of Health and of Basic and Secondary Education have concluded high-level talks to roll out coordinated sensitization and prevention measures against diphtheria as schools prepare to reopen across the state.
The meeting Held at the Conference Hall of the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in Minna.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the State Ministry of Health,Usman Jibrin Kodo and made available to Journalists on Wednesday in Minna.
It added that the interface comes amid a diphtheria outbreak that has recorded 124 confirmed cases and 17 deaths in Niger State between January and August 2026.
According to the Ministry of Health, the outbreak has mainly affected Chanchaga, Katcha, Bida, Agaie, Suleja and Lapai Local Government Areas, prompting intensified efforts to curb transmission and shield children and other vulnerable groups.
Speaking at the meeting, the Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana, said the engagement was aimed at equipping the education sector with clear, actionable information on diphtheria and aligning both ministries on a strong public-awareness drive ahead of school resumption.
Dr. Bagana emphasised that while vaccination remains the cornerstone of prevention, the immediate priority is to sensitise parents, guardians, teachers and pupils on how to recognise symptoms early, how the disease spreads, and what practical steps families and schools can take to stop transmission.
The Commissioner stated. “We must ensure that every household, every school and every community understands what diphtheria is, how it presents, and why early reporting and immunisation matter.”
He directed that public enlightenment be intensified through:
Consequently,Radio jingles in the major indigenous languages spoken across Niger State, dedicated talk shows and phone-in programmes on diphtheria;
Dr. Bagana assured that the State Government remains committed to ensuring that no child returns to school without adequate protection, but stressed that this can only be achieved if caregivers are fully informed and actively engaged in the prevention effort.
Also In her remarks,the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, reaffirmed her Ministry’s readiness to work closely with the Health Ministry, noting that the safety and well-being of pupils and students are non-negotiable.
She acknowledged logistical challenges in setting up vaccination points across the state’s roughly 4,000 schools spread over 25 Local Government Areas, but said health authorities had assured her that arrangements would be made to ensure adequate coverage.
Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed added that schools would serve as key platforms for diphtheria awareness, with teachers and school health clubs expected to reinforce messages on hygiene, early symptom recognition and the importance of completing recommended immunisation schedules.
Similarly,the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Junaidu Inuwa, linked the high casualty rate largely to children who missed recommended doses of diphtheria-containing vaccines.
He noted that failure by some parents and guardians to fully immunise their children against vaccine-preventable diseases continues to pose a serious public health challenge, and called for sustained community-level sensitization to close this gap.
Dr. Inuwa stressed that early detection and prompt intervention are critical to preventing further spread, but underlined that prevention—through awareness and full immunisation—remains the ultimate goal.
However,with schools set to resume, the inter-ministerial interface marks a decisive shift toward an awareness-led response: coordinated vaccination campaigns, strengthened disease surveillance, and systematic health education within schools and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile,the agreed measures are expected to translate policy into practical action at school and community levels, ensuring that every child returns to a safer, healthier and more secure learning environment.
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