From Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
Katsina State has recorded over 1,000 suspected cases of diphtheria between January and August this year, the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Dr. Shehu Kabir, has disclosed.
Speaking at a press briefing on the state of the disease, Dr. Kabir said about five per cent of those affected were estimated to have died from the disease.
According to him, diphtheria has so far been identified in 29 of the state’s 34 local government areas.
He said Funtua, Kankia, Bakori, Katsina, Mashi and Daura local government areas recorded the highest number of cases.
The Executive Secretary said that, as part of efforts to control the spread of the disease, the state government had commenced reactive vaccination in 15 high-risk wards across Bakori, Chiranchi, Funtua, Mashi and Kankia.
He further disclosed that three isolation centres had been established in Daura, Katsina and Funtua.
“Government has provided essential drugs and medical consumables, as well as infection prevention and control materials,” he said.
Dr. Kabir added that case-management drugs had also been pre-positioned in affected areas, while health workers were being trained on diphtheria surveillance and case management.
He appealed to parents, caregivers and community leaders to ensure that children received all recommended vaccines.
According to him, vaccination remains one of the safest and most effective ways of preventing diphtheria.
He also urged parents to immediately report to the nearest health facility if their children develop symptoms such as sore throat, fever or difficulty in breathing.
