News
Kano Inaugurates Committee to Tackle Diphtheria Outbreak
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a special committee to strengthen efforts to contain the diphtheria outbreak and prevent further spread of t...
By Wavers Multimedia
The Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response was inaugurated on Friday by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, according to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar Ahmad.
The commissioner said the committee was established to provide a stronger and coordinated response to diphtheria, which has remained a public health concern in Kano since December 2022.
He stressed the need for urgent and collective action to protect residents and reduce the spread of the highly contagious disease.
Yusuf identified vaccination and early medical attention as key measures in controlling diphtheria. He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children receive the required vaccinations and advised anyone suspected of having the disease to seek medical attention promptly.
The committee is expected to strengthen disease surveillance, ensure early reporting of suspected cases and improve the registration and monitoring of affected persons.
It will also focus on increasing vaccination in areas with low coverage, as well as improving the follow-up and referral of suspected patients to appropriate treatment facilities.
The committee comprises representatives of the state government, local government councils and emirate councils, a structure designed to improve coordination and ensure that response measures reach communities effectively.
The committee is chaired by the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas.
Speaking after the inauguration, Abbas assured the Commissioner of Health that the committee would work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen surveillance, vaccination and outbreak response activities throughout the state.
The latest intervention comes amid concerns over diphtheria in parts of Kano, including Rano Local Government Area, where the state House of Assembly had previously called for urgent government action following reports of deaths linked to the outbreak.
The government’s latest move is aimed at improving coordination among health authorities and community stakeholders while ensuring faster detection, vaccination and treatment as Kano continues its efforts to contain the disease.