The Kano State Government has taken another major step to strengthen the fight against diphtheria with the inauguration of a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response.
This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Kano State Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar Ahmad, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH on Saturday.
According to the statement, the committee was inaugurated on Friday by the Commissioner of Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf.
“The committee was established to ensure a stronger and coordinated response to the disease and to prevent its further spread across the state,” Dr Labaran Yusuf was quoted as saying.
The commissioner explained that diphtheria is a highly contagious disease that can spread quickly within communities, noting that the disease has remained a public health concern in Kano State since December 2022.
He further stressed that urgent and collective action was needed to protect communities and save lives.
The commissioner identified vaccination and early medical attention as key measures in controlling the disease. He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that every eligible child receives the required vaccination and advised them to immediately take anyone suspected of having diphtheria to the nearest health facility for proper medical attention.
He said the committee members were carefully selected based on their experience and competence, adding that they are expected to ensure early reporting of suspected cases, stronger surveillance, proper registration of cases, vaccination in areas where coverage is low, and effective follow-up and referral of suspected patients for treatment.
The commissioner further explained that the committee includes representatives from the state government, local government councils and emirate councils to ensure a coordinated response and effective action at the community level.
He charged the committee members to work with commitment and dedication to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to them, stressing that their collective efforts would be critical to reducing the spread of diphtheria and protecting the people of Kano State.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Committee and Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, assured the commissioner that the committee would do everything possible to achieve its mandate.
He said the committee would work closely with relevant stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, vaccination and response activities across the state.
The inauguration demonstrates the commitment of the Kano State Government to protecting the health of its citizens and ensuring a timely and effective response to disease outbreaks.
The Kano State House of Assembly had last week called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to urgently intervene in the diphtheria outbreak that had reportedly claimed the lives of over 50 children in Rano Local Government Area.
The member representing Rano Constituency, Ibrahim Malami, made the call in a motion of urgent public importance presented before the House during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Jibril Isma’il Falgore.
COURTESY: PUNCH
