RismadarVoice Reporters
August 31, 2026
The Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Katsina, says its paediatric ward is under severe pressure following a surge in suspected and confirmed diphtheria cases referred from health facilities across the state.
The hospital disclosed that the rising number of patients has resulted in overcrowding and a shortage of available bed spaces, even as authorities have yet to provide a detailed breakdown of the number of infections and deaths recorded in the state.
In a statement on Saturday, the hospital said the influx of patients from various health facilities had placed significant strain on its paediatric services.
It, however, did not disclose the number of children currently receiving treatment, laboratory-confirmed cases or deaths linked to the outbreak.
The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies its response to diphtheria outbreaks in Katsina and neighbouring Kano State.
The government has activated an emergency multi-agency task force involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the affected state governments and development partners.
The task force is expected to strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak investigations, increase vaccination activities and improve access to treatment for affected patients.
FTH Katsina, a major referral centre serving the state and parts of neighbouring areas, said the growing number of patients had stretched its available resources.
“The hospital is making every possible arrangement to accommodate and manage the increasing number of patients, even in the absence of sufficient bed spaces,” the management said.
Despite the overcrowding, the hospital said medical personnel continued to provide care for critically ill children.
It also appealed for stronger coordination among healthcare institutions, government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the outbreak response.
As part of the emergency intervention, the Federal Government has directed additional support to the hospital, including diphtheria antitoxin, intravenous antibiotics, additional healthcare personnel and personal protective equipment.
Treatment annexes are also expected to be established across Katsina State’s three senatorial districts, Katsina, Daura and Funtua, in an effort to reduce pressure on the teaching hospital and make treatment more accessible to affected communities.
However, details about the proposed centres, including their locations, bed capacities and operational status, have not been released.
Despite the reported pressure on the referral hospital and the activation of the emergency response, authorities have not released a Katsina-specific breakdown of suspected cases, confirmed infections, deaths or the local government areas most affected.
The vaccination status of children affected by the outbreak has also not been disclosed.
Health officials say such information would help provide a clearer picture of the outbreak and determine whether gaps in routine childhood immunisation are contributing to the spread of the disease.
The Federal Ministry of Health has said the emergency response will include efforts to address “population immunity gaps” by vaccinating children who have not been adequately immunised.
Questions also remain over when the latest rise in cases was first detected, what measures were implemented before referrals began putting pressure on FTH Katsina, and the treatment capacity available at secondary healthcare facilities across the state.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency is expected to brief journalists on the outbreak and the government’s response.
