The ongoing diphtheria outbreak in Katsina State has placed the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina under severe pressure, with a sharp increase in suspected and confirmed cases overwhelming its children’s ward.
Hospital management said on Saturday that the facility was receiving large numbers of patients referred from other health centres, pushing its available bed capacity beyond its limits.
In a statement, the hospital said the influx had resulted in severe overcrowding in the children’s ward as it struggled to accommodate the growing number of patients requiring treatment.
Despite the pressure, the management said the hospital was taking steps to accommodate and treat affected children, even with limited bed spaces.
It added that healthcare workers had continued to provide care to critically ill patients while working under increasingly difficult conditions.
“Healthcare workers continue to demonstrate commitment and resilience in ensuring that critically ill children receive the care they need while efforts are being made to respond effectively to the increasing patient load,” the statement said.
The hospital management also called for greater coordination among health facilities and other stakeholders involved in the outbreak response.
It said a coordinated approach was necessary to manage the rising number of patients effectively and protect children affected by the disease.
“FTH Katsina remains committed to supporting the response to the outbreak,” the management said, stressing that “a coordinated effort among all relevant health facilities and stakeholders is essential to effectively manage the situation and protect the lives of affected children.”
The hospital did not provide figures for the number of diphtheria patients currently receiving treatment or the total number of suspected and confirmed cases recorded in Katsina State.
