1,600 children have recovered since 2022 from a diphtheria outbreak in northeastern Nigeria
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) announced on Monday that 117 children have died from a diphtheria outbreak in North-East. Nigeria In Yobe State since 2022.
However, the agency confirmed that 1,600 children recovered from the disease during the aforementioned period.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the agency, noted this during an inspection visit to the diphtheria isolation center in Potiskum, an outbreak area in the state.
He explained that the total recorded cases of the disease in Yobe State since November 22 amounted to 1,796 cases, noting that the disease has witnessed a greater spread among children between the ages of five and fourteen years.
Shuaib, who led the emergency team to combat diphtheria in the state, expressed his satisfaction with the diphtheria vaccination campaign conducted in Potiskum and 17 other government areas in the state.
“By October 12, more vulnerable children will be provided with vaccines to contain the disease,” he said. “Vaccines are strong, safe and effective.”
He pointed out that the low vaccination rate is responsible for the recent outbreak of the disease across the country.
He explained: “In an independent National Statistics Survey in 2016 and 2017 (MICS NICS), it showed that only 33 percent of Nigerians were covered by vaccinations.”
He added: “As a result of joint efforts by the federal government and development partners, this percentage increased to 70 percent in 2019.”
He pointed out that the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, which hindered many people from vaccinating their children due to the closure and their fear of contracting the virus, caused the coverage rate to drop to 57 percent.
Shuaib said that improving environmental and personal hygiene will contribute to eliminating the disease even though Yobe State is second only to Kano State in terms of cases. Diphtheria all over the country.
The NPHCDA Chairman commended the Yobe government and development partners for their roles in the fight against diphtheria and pledged continuous support to improve healthcare service delivery in the state.
He stressed the need for an intensive care unit to effectively monitor, refer and manage diphtheria cases.
2023-10-10 03:21:58
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