Rising suspected and confirmed cases referred from health facilities across Katsina have left the Federal Teaching Hospital struggling with overcrowding as healthcare workers race to provide lifesaving care to critically ill children.

KATSINA — The ongoing diphtheria outbreak in Katsina State has placed the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Katsina under severe pressure, with a surge in suspected and confirmed cases forcing the hospital’s children’s ward beyond its available capacity.

The hospital management, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the continuous arrival of patients referred from healthcare facilities across the state had resulted in serious overcrowding, leaving available bed spaces stretched beyond their limits.

The situation has created an unprecedented burden on the hospital, particularly the paediatric ward, where medical personnel are attending to an increasing number of children requiring urgent and, in some cases, critical medical attention.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause serious breathing difficulties and other potentially life-threatening complications, particularly among children who are unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated.

Despite the strain on its facilities, FTH Katsina said it was making every effort to ensure that affected children continue to receive timely and quality medical care.

“The hospital is making every possible arrangement to accommodate and manage the increasing number of patients, even in the absence of sufficient bed spaces,” the management said.

The hospital also commended its healthcare workers for their dedication and resilience as they continue to work under difficult conditions to care for critically ill children.

According to the management, the commitment of doctors, nurses and other health workers has remained crucial to sustaining the hospital’s response as the number of patients continues to rise.

The hospital further appealed for stronger cooperation among health institutions, government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the outbreak response.

It stressed that a coordinated approach would be necessary to contain the spread of the disease, manage the growing number of patients and protect children who are particularly vulnerable to severe complications.

“FTH Katsina remains committed to supporting the response to the outbreak. 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 statement added.

The hospital did not disclose the current number of patients admitted for suspected or confirmed diphtheria or the total number of confirmed cases recorded across Katsina State.

However, the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Agency was expected to provide an update on the outbreak during a press briefing scheduled for Sunday, August 30, 2026, at its Primary Healthcare Coordination Centre.

The briefing is expected to provide further details on the scale of the outbreak, the number of affected communities and patients, as well as measures being taken by health authorities to prevent further transmission.

The development comes amid growing concerns over the capacity of health facilities to cope with the outbreak as referrals continue to increase.

Health authorities are expected to intensify surveillance, case management, vaccination and other response measures as they work to bring the situation under control.