Gom Mirian
In a desperate bid to combat the alarming surge of Diphtheria cases in affected states, the Federal Government (FG) has issued a stern call to governors to swiftly implement face-covering requirements, including the mandatory use of face masks, to stop further transmission.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), made the call on Tuesday at a diphtheria outbreak response conference in Abuja.
The bacterial infection which primarily affects the respiratory system, has sent shockwaves across the country.
According to Dr. Shuaib, Kano State alone accounts for 84 per cent of all recorded cases nationwide, with Yobe, Katsina, Kaduna, Borno, and Bauchi bearing the brunt, accounting for an astounding 97 per cent of all known cases.
He noted that the burden falls disproportionately on the young, with children between the ages of 1 and 14 accounting for nearly 73 per cent of cases. He continued that only 18 per cent of individuals afflicted had gotten any immunizations, which is worrying.
He said: “While we are firmly focused on controlling the diphtheria outbreak, our vision extends beyond the immediate crisis. We are committed to strengthening our healthcare systems, ensuring the consistent availability of vaccines, and enhancing our capacity to respond to future outbreaks.
“The federal government continues to collaborate with Gavi, the vaccine alliance and our development partners as efforts are in full swing to expedite the procurement and delivery of more vaccines to combat this outbreak.
“Diptheria is an airborne disease like COVID-19. We can reduce air contact with the bacteria by adopting non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the use of facemasks, handwashing, and physical distance from affected persons. However, this should be done in a way that doesn’t stigmatise nor discriminate against sick people.”
