Kano Govt Inaugurates Committee to Curb Diphtheria Outbreak

The Kano State Government has inaugurated a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response to strengthen surveillance, vaccination and treatment efforts against the disease.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, while inaugurating the committee on Friday in Kano, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring a stronger and coordinated response to diphtheria and preventing its further spread across the state.

Yusuf said diphtheria was a highly contagious disease capable of spreading rapidly within communities, adding that it had remained a public health concern in the state since December 2022.

He stressed the need for urgent and collective action to protect communities and save lives.

The commissioner identified vaccination and early medical intervention as key measures in controlling the disease.

He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that all eligible children received the required vaccinations, while advising them to immediately take anyone suspected of having diphtheria to the nearest health facility for proper medical attention.

Yusuf said members of the committee were carefully selected based on their experience and competence to ensure early reporting of suspected cases, stronger disease surveillance and proper registration of cases.

He added that the committee would also be responsible for supporting vaccination activities in areas with low coverage, as well as effective follow-up and referral of suspected cases for treatment.

According to him, the committee comprises representatives of the state government, Local Government Councils and Emirate Councils to ensure effective coordination and response at the grassroots.

He charged members to discharge their responsibilities with commitment and dedication, stressing that their collective efforts would be critical to reducing the spread of diphtheria and protecting the people of the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee and Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, assured the commissioner that the committee would work diligently to achieve its mandate.

Abbas said the committee would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, vaccination and outbreak response activities across the state.

The inauguration, according to the ministry, underscores the commitment of the state government to protecting the health of citizens and ensuring timely and effective responses to disease outbreaks.