*NCDC says antimicrobial resistance deadlier than HIV, TB, malaria

A grave public health concern emerged in the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State, yesterday, as residents on raised the alarm over the deadly diphtheria disease making a troubling resurgence, prompting urgent calls for intervention.

This was as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) also raised the alarm over the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
The children of Tukur-Tukur reportedly exhibited symptoms, including sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes and profound weakness, hallmark signs of diphtheria.

In a statement, yesterday, a director in the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, raised the alarm following the death of two children within 48 hours.

As the community mourns its young victims, leaders like Suleiman continue to rally for action, calling the resurgence of diphtheria a stark reminder that the fight against preventable diseases is far from over.

Suleiman said: “The recent tragic loss of two children in just 48 hours, exhibiting symptoms such as sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and debilitating weakness, underscores the urgent need for a coordinated health response.

“Diphtheria, a bacterial infection primarily affecting the throat and nose, poses significant risks, including respiratory failure and heart damage. Once a common childhood illness, the introduction of widespread vaccination programmes in the mid-20th century drastically reduced its prevalence.”

He urged parents to cooperate with health workers by ensuring their children receive vaccinations and by seeking immediate medical help at the first sign of illness.

NCDC described AMR as a ‘silent killer’ deadlier than malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) combined. Director-General, NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, said this at the weekend in Abuja, highlighting the urgent need to tackle the global health threat, which many Nigerians remained unaware of.

Idris said, “AMR is a silent killer. It kills more than the combination of malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS together. The worst thing is that not much is known about it, especially among the public. It has become a global focus.

“AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve to resist the effects of medications—making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.”

He said the Federal Government had stepped up its response and that the country was already working on implementing its National Action Plan on AMR 2.0, which has strategic pillars including Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship and financing.

“AMR was supposed to be part and parcel of our health programmes. We are about to roll out specific programmes targeting AMR. These efforts will include IPC, antimicrobial stewardship, and sustainable financing—these are critical areas we’re looking at,” he added.