European Union Releases 150,000 Euros To Fight Diphtheria

The European Union (EU) says it has released €150,000 (N75 million) in humanitarian funds to prevent the spread of diphtheria in Nigeria.

Most affected communities in the states of Kano, Katsina, Lagos, and Osun are likely to benefit most from the funds.

According to the EU, the intervention is in response to the significant increase in diphtheria cases recorded since the beginning of 2023 in Nigeria.

This EU funding will enable the Nigerian Red Cross 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 and hygiene promotion, and early case detection in affected areas.

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, according to a statement by the EU on Monday as reported by daily trust.

This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).