By Mohammed Suleiman, Dutse.
No fewer than 10 lives mostly teenagers were killed as a result of suspected Diphtheria disease as 91 cases were reported from 14 local government areas of Jigawa state.
The permanent Secretary Jigawa state ministry of Health Dr Salisu Mu”azu confirmed this while fielding questions from newsmen on Diphtheria outbreak in the state.
He explained that out of the 91 suspected cases 2 were confirmed while result of other samples were awaiting.
Dr Muazu added that’ the state ministry of health has already mobilized teams of health workers to the affected area, and they have already lay-listen the area for micro immunization.
“All the contacts and other children in the affected area will be given immunization as well constant treatment and surveillance, as part of campaigns to mitigate the scourge of the disease which is amongst the child killer diseases”
According to the Perm Sec. the state Ministry of Gealth has already informed National Primary Healthcare Agency ( NPHA) and National Commission For Disease Control (NCDC) for prompt intervention.
” We have submitted reports to NCDC and NPHC and any moment from now they will release the required vaccine dosage that we will use for a special round in the identified areas.
Dr Muazu related the disease outbreak to Covid-19 pandemic during which many children recieved zero dosage of immunization as a result of the breakdown of healthcare services in that period.
Medicine Sen Frontier (MSF) recently raised alarm over long protocols in accessing Diphtheria vaccine and drugs , saying that, such protocols and delay might aggravates the situation and lead to more casualties.
The MSF country Director Mrs Pamela Akko raised the alarm during a courtesy visit to the Jigawa state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, and urged him and other state governors to intervene , for making the vaccine and drugs timely available and accessable.