Diphtheria: 20 die in Kaduna – Agency

The National Primary Health Care Department Agency (NPHCDA) says 20 persons have been confirmed dead of the 156 cases of Diphtheria in the State.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, who is also Co-Chair of the Federal Task Team on Diphtheria, made the disclosure during an assessment visit to Kaduna on Wednesday.

Shuaib said they were at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, to assess the situation of the diphtheria outbreak that affected part of the State.

According to Shuaib, Kaduna is ranked among the seven states with the highest number of diphtheria, saying that they were at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where mild to moderate cases are being attended to before being admitted to the infectious disease hospitals.

The Executive Director noted that since March, when the diphtheria outbreak was detected in Kaduna, 156 cases and about 20 deaths were recorded.

He said, “There is also a need for the media to step up in creating awareness and providing useful information to the public about the existence of the disease.”

He stressed the need for patients to be presented early, assuring that diphtheria is a preventable disease.

He said that about 80 per cent of those afflicted by the disease did not present themselves for vaccination.

He noted that vaccines were the most powerful tools against vaccine-preventable diseases.

While acknowledging the state government’s efforts in combating the disease, he encouraged the people to wear nose masks, especially when visiting health facilities.

He hailed the efforts of the Chief Medical Director of the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and the State’s Primary Health Care Board.