The executive director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has disclosed that Kaduna State has recorded 156 cases of diphtheria outbreaks and 20 deaths.
Shuaib made the disclosure yesterday when he led the Diphtheria National Task Team to the Kaduna Diphtheria Treatment Centre at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital.
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He said, “Since March 2023, when the outbreak was first detected in Kaduna, they have seen 156 cases and about 20 deaths so far, which is high for diphtheria.
“But we also recognize that some of the patients are presenting lately, and this is where it is important that the media also step up to increase awareness and provide information to community members about the existence of this outbreak and the need for patients to present early to health facilities so that they can get the medication that is required.”
“It is very clear that this is a preventable disease. If we look at the data, we will see that over 80 percent of those that were afflicted by this disease now get the diphtheria vaccine.”
While in Kano, Shuaib said it was too early to declare that there was full control over the outbreak of the diphtheria disease.
He, however, stated that there were early preliminary indications that the outbreak is gradually being controlled, especially in Kano, where he was on an assessment tour.
Shu’aibu told newsmen in Kano yesterday after inspecting a facility for the fight against diphtheria at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, that so far over 10,000 diphtheria cases have been reported since late last year, with 570 deaths. Of the 10,000 reported cases, 7,000 were confirmed, and control measures have been put in place.
“So far, we have data that shows that over 10,000 suspected cases of diphtheria have been reported since late last year. We’ve reported over 570 deaths, and 7,000 out of the over 10,000 cases have been confirmed.
“But what the last couple of days have shown is a progressive reduction in the number of cases that we are reporting. It is still early to declare that we have full control of the outbreak, but these are the early preliminary indications that Kano State is doing a great job,” he stated.
He assured that the federal government is working with partners in the sector to ensure that states get the vaccines they require to bring the outbreak under full control, while praising the Kano State government for its effort towards ensuring control of the disease.