URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Kano Govt Sets Up Special Committee To Fight Diphtheria Outbreak
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against the highly contagious disease.
The committee was inaugurated on Friday by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health’s PRO, Nabilusi Abubakar Ahmad..
Dr. Labaran Yusuf said the committee was established to ensure a stronger and coordinated response to the disease and prevent further spread across the state.
“Diphtheria is a highly contagious disease that can spread quickly within communities. The disease has remained a public health concern in Kano State since December 2022,” the commissioner said.
He stressed that urgent and collective action was needed to protect communities and save lives.
The commissioner identified vaccination and early medical attention as the key measures to control the outbreak.
He urged parents and caregivers to ensure every eligible child receives required vaccinations and to immediately take anyone suspected of having diphtheria to the nearest health facility.
“Vaccination and early medical attention are key measures in controlling the disease,” he said.
Dr. Labaran Yusuf said members were selected based on experience and competence. Their responsibilities include:
– Early reporting of suspected cases
– Stronger surveillance and proper registration of cases
– Vaccination in areas with low coverage
– Effective follow-up and referral of suspected patients for treatment
The committee includes representatives from the state government, local government councils, and emirate councils to ensure coordinated action at the community level.
The commissioner charged members to work with commitment, saying their efforts would be critical to reducing the spread of diphtheria.
The Chairman of the Committee and *Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas*, assured that the committee would work closely with stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, vaccination and response activities across the state.
The inauguration comes after the Kano State House of Assembly last week called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to urgently intervene in the outbreak, which was reportedly said to have claimed the lives of over 50 children in Rano LGA.
The call was made by the member representing Rano Constituency, Ibrahim Malami, during plenary presided over by Speaker Jibril Isma’il Falgore.