Yobe gov’t, partners intensify fight against Diphtheria outbreak
Story from Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
Yobe State Government is intensifying efforts to curtail the spread of Diphtheria in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Mai Mala Buni on health matters, Dr Muhammad Lawan Gana, disclosed this during a coordination meeting of the health sector in the state.
Dr Lawan Gana said Diphtheria that is currently ravaging the country has been recorded in the state with the highest case records in Nguru.
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According to him, other local government areas affected are Gulani Bursari, Potiskum, Tarmuwa, Damaturu and Nangere respectively.
He stated that the active cases are currently in the isolation centres of Specialist Hospitals Potiskum and Damaturu, while 289 cases have been treated and discharged.
“Yobe State Government and partners have been making various interventions in fighting the outbreak, while the sector is strategising a more coordinated result oriented means of preventing, managing, and ending the cases in the state.
“Diphtheria is majorly affecting zero dose vaccination households and the state Ministry of Health is identifying these households for vaccination of the under 2 years.
“There is also provision of necessary drugs for use in the state. Government is also intensifying the training of clinical staff to effectively manage cases.
“As the raining season sets in, cases of malaria is also feared to complicate Diphtheria outbreak, thus the need for massive sensitisation of the communities on the outbreak, especially how to prevent them, said Governor Buni’s health aide
The health aide further revealed that adequate mobilisation for the acceptance of immunisation among the people is also needed.
He noted that the state social mobilisation and community engagement under the Ministry of Information will embark on a deliberate result oriented advocacies, sensitisation and mobilisation of communities in order to curtail, manage and eradicate these avoidable diseases.