Diphtheria In Yobe: FG intensifies efforts to streamline epidemic
Story from Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
In an efforts to streamline the diphtheria epidemic in Yobe state, the federal government diphtheria emergency task team visited the isolation centre located at Potiskum Specialist Hospital in Yobe State.
The team was led by the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Faisal Shuaib.
READ ALSO: Diphtheria Outbreak: Yobe records 117 deaths, 1,796 suspected cases
Addressing press men at the isolation centre in Potiskum town, Dr. Faisal Shuaib said they ware in Potiskum of Yobe State as federal government delegation on diphtheria emergency team that was setup by minister of health, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, to asses how the response to diphtheria outbreak are being managed in the state.
Mr. Shuaib stated that the visit is also to see how resources deployed by the federal and state governments are being channel to ensure that more Nigerians do not get infected and have quality healthcare.
“So far, we have seen how the state government has already set up an incidence management system, they have an incidence manager of the Diphtheria Emergency Operations Centre and leadership have been provided by the Chief Medical Director and all of the consultants at the Specialist Hospital Potiskum.
“We have seen that alot needs to be done in terms of providing medical care and intensive care.
“For us at the diphtheria emergency task team, we are impressed by the responses so far after the outbreak of the disease, immediate responses and vaccine were deployed to make sure that communities members get vaccinated and it was later followed with vaccination in local government areas”, said the NPHCDA Executive Director.
He noted that the next vaccination campaign would hold on 12th of October 2023, stressing that all of these is to provide vulnerable kids adequate vaccines that can prevent the diphtheria disease.