The Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina (FTH Katsina) is facing mounting pressure as the ongoing diphtheria outbreak in Katsina State continues to drive a surge in suspected and confirmed cases to the facility.
The hospital management said the increasing number of referrals from other health facilities had overwhelmed the Children’s Ward, leaving the hospital with limited bed spaces to accommodate the growing number of patients.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the management said the situation had resulted in severe overcrowding, with available beds stretched beyond capacity.
Despite the pressure, the hospital said its medical personnel were working to ensure that critically ill children continued to receive timely and quality care.
The management said it was making arrangements to accommodate the increasing number of patients despite the shortage of available beds.
It also commended healthcare workers for their commitment and resilience in managing the growing patient load.
“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 called for stronger coordination among healthcare facilities and other stakeholders involved in the outbreak response.
According to the management, a coordinated approach is necessary to ease the pressure on the hospital and ensure that affected children receive appropriate care.
“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 on the number of suspected or confirmed diphtheria cases currently receiving treatment or the overall number of cases recorded in the state.
The development highlights the growing pressure on health facilities as Katsina continues to respond to the outbreak, with the teaching hospital serving as a major referral centre for affected patients.
