Niger State Gov’t Confirms 17 Persons Died of Diphtheria out of 124 Cases

By YM Bina

Niger State Government has confirmed the that 17 people have died of diphtheria out of 124 recorded cases of infection in three local government areas within the last seven months.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana, made this known while presenting the health sector’s highlight at the Second Quarter Press Parley organised by the Niger State Ministry of Information and Orientation in Minna.

Bagana also disclosed that 103 patients had been treated and discharged, while 17 deaths had been recorded cases in Bida, Suleja and Shiroro Local Government Areas of Niger state.

According to him, three new cases had recently been identified, with one patient currently on admission.

He noted that the government was strengthening disease surveillance, case management, immunisation and public awareness to contain the disease and prevent further transmission.

Bagana urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children were fully vaccinated, stressing that routine immunisation remained critical to preventing childhood diseases such as diphtheria, measles and other vaccine-preventable infections.

Similarly, the Niger State Government says it is targeting the completion and operationalisation of 100 out of the 274 Tier-Two Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) being upgraded across the state by the end of 2026.

Dr Bagana said the ongoing upgrading of the PHCs was part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.

He said the administration of Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago had continued to prioritise investment in the health sector through infrastructure development, strategic partnerships with development partners and the timely payment of counterpart funds.

According to Bagana, 100 of the 274 targeted Tier-Two PHCs are expected to be ready by the end of this year 2026.

The commissioner further disclosed that the state government was providing a number of free healthcare interventions aimed at reducing the financial burden of treatment on residents.

He said accident victims were entitled to free treatment within the first 24 hours of presentation at designated health facilities, while victims of snake bites would also receive free treatment within the first 24 hours.

Bagana further disclosed that Caesarean Section operations were being provided free of charge in five designated centres across the state.

He said vaccines were also available free of charge at all Primary Healthcare Centres in the state, urging parents and caregivers to ensure that their children received the recommended vaccines.

The commissioner said the Ministry of Health was working towards enforcing relevant provisions of the Child Rights Act and other applicable regulations to ensure that children had access to routine immunisation.

He said the move was aimed at addressing barriers to vaccination and preventing avoidable outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

On clinical training for medical students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, the commissioner assured students and parents that arrangements were being made to provide clinical training facilities in Minna within the next six months to one year.

He explained that the arrangement became necessary following delays in the construction of the permanent IBBU University Teaching Hospital in Minna.

According to him, the state government had encountered disagreements with the contractor handling the project, which affected its progress.

He, however, said the issues had been resolved and arrangements were being finalised for the re-award of the contract to another contractor.

“In view of that, we have lost some mileage, as there was some disagreement along the way. But finally, we are at the point where the contract would be re-awarded to another contractor who would take us to completion,” he said.

Bagana said the government would not wait for the completion of the permanent teaching hospital before commencing clinical training for subsequent batches of medical students.

He said the permanent facility was currently projected to be completed within 18 months to two years, while interim arrangements were being made to enable students to undertake their clinical training in Minna.

“We are not waiting for the teaching hospital to be completed before we start training our students. Since the timeline for the completion of the hospital is now between 18 months to two years, in the next six months to one year, we will have our facilities ready for them,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the Minna General Hospital was undergoing rehabilitation to serve as a temporary clinical training facility for the IBBU College of Mlll

He added that the government was also working with a contractor to establish a laboratory medicine facility at the IBB Specialist Hospital, while the IBBU Guest House in Minna would provide accommodation for the students.

Bagana recalled that the first batch of 41 medical students had moved to Zaria for clinical training pending the availability of suitable facilities in Niger State.

He said the interim arrangement would enable subsequent batches of students to undertake their clinical training in Minna while the government pursued completion of the permanent teaching hospital.

The commissioner attributed the improvements recorded in the state’s health sector to the commitment of Gov. Bago to strengthening healthcare delivery and sustaining collaboration with development partners.

He urged the media to continue supporting the Ministry of Health through public health advocacy and sensitisation, particularly on routine immunisation and the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and others.

Also contributing, Dr Samuel Jiya said that there’s decline in measles infection this year with the record of 31 cases, 9 tested positive and treated while 2 death was recorded in Niger state.

It was revealed that no fewer than 20 Consultant doctors have been engaged by the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago due to huge investments in the health sector of the economy but inherited non.

Dr Bagana hinted that the Niger State government has secured N2.5 billion malaria drugs through partnership, adding that it recently embarked on free medical outreach targeted at 1.5 million people where patients were provided with free catarrah operations, 1,500 eye glasses and 500 walking sticks, assuring for more in the nearest future.

He informed that the previllence of HIV is at decline with less than one percent, saying that the state as measures are ongoing to enjoy global fund partnership while he applauded the state government ability to ensure the required collaboration by creating condusive enabling environment for effective and efficient health service delivery in the state.