Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The European Union (EU) has released €150,000 (N75 million) in humanitarian funds to prevent the spread of diphtheria and assist the most affected communities in the states of Kano, Katsina, Lagos and Osun.
A statement on Monday said the EU funding will enable the Nigerian Red Cross (NRC) to provide emergency assistance to reduce the impact of diphtheria on affected and at-risk communities through risk communication, outbreak control activities, surveillance, patient referral, hygiene promotion and early case detection in affected areas.
There has been significant increase in diphtheria cases in Nigeria since the beginning of the year.
According to the statement, humanitarian assistance will directly and indirectly target around 1,585,080 people, with a particular focus on vulnerable people at risk of diphtheria, those living in sheltered communities or hard-to-reach locations.
The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to…
Source: Thisday Newspaper
