The ECOWAS and European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria announced on Tuesday that a million euros, or N847 million, would be provided to combat the diphtheria outbreak in the Northeast and Northwest regions of Nigeria.

In an attempt to combat the disease outbreak in Nigeria, the bloc sent money to support the most impacted communities and stop the disease’s spread.

In a statement released by the EU Embassy in Abuja, the bloc made this commitment. It stated that the EU would donate 34 million euros in June 2023 to combat diseases and climate change, among other humanitarian issues.

This fund is in addition to the 150,000 euros that were previously given to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) in March 2023 in order to aid in the control of the epidemic, according to the statement.

With the help of this new EU funding, UNICEF and the medical non-profit ALIMA will be able to support frontline health agencies with staff and technical assistance to improve surveillance and case detection, treat cases, increase community awareness, and help with vaccine procurement.

“With 10,322 confirmed cases and 16,616 suspected cases since the year’s beginning, Nigeria is currently experiencing the second-largest diphtheria outbreak in the history of the disease.

“Kano State, with 8,447 confirmed cases and 589 deaths, is the epicenter of the outbreak. With 96 percent of all suspected cases occurring in Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, and Kaduna combined, these states are the most affected.

“Despite control efforts since the start of the outbreak in late 2022, the disease has gradually spread to other states in the Northwest and Northeast regions.

“Children aged 1 to 14 years are the most affected, and they represent 72 per cent of all confirmed cases. Analysis of the vaccination status reveals that over 60 per cent of all suspected cases have not been vaccinated.

“The funding is part of the EU’s Epidemics tool, created to provide rapid funding in case of a disease outbreak.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection transmitted between humans and causes an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which can lead to breathing difficulties and suffocation.

Those most at risk are children and people who have not been fully vaccinated against the disease,” it stated.

The embassy statement also indicated that the EU, together with its member states, is the leading donor of humanitarian aid in the world.

“Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world,” it said.

It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

The EU, through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Department, helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year.

Through its headquarters in Brussels and its global network of field offices, the EU assists the most vulnerable people based on humanitarian needs alone. (NAN)