The Executive Secretary Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda has reassured the public that the board is doing all it’s possible best to stop the further spread of the deadly diphtheria disease in the state.
The Kano State Hospitals Management Board, through its Public Relations Officer Samira Suleiman disclosed in a press statement that, after an emergency meeting with stakeholders of the diphtheria response team, a work plan has been put in place for immediate action.
Part of the work is to make sure people utilise the decentralised centers for upcoming symptoms of the disease for immediate treatment.
Initially, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital was the only diphtheria center, but subsequently the center was decentralised leaving Murtala as the emergency zone.
Other zones are Bichi, Gaya, Gwarzo, Tudunwada, Rano, Danbatta, Wudil, Waziri Shehu Gidado General Hospital, Imam Wali Hospital, Sheik Muhammad Jidda Specialist Hospital popularly know as asibitin Kuroda, Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital popularly known as asibitin Nasarawa and Idh popularly known as asibitin Zana.
Furthermore, a decision was also reached to reopen Yargaya Isolation Center to also serve as a center for critical patients so as to decongest IDH center. “We have ordered that the trained Diphtheria Doctors who worked for MSF to be recalled back to complement the effort of the existing Doctors running the facilities.
Some of the Symptoms of Diphtheria include sore throat, fever, swollen lymph, nodes, occurrence of rashes on the hand and the body, total body weakness, loss of appetite. “It is paramount that people with such symptoms should be isolated from other individuals and visit any of our diphtheria centers for quick response as medication have been provided by the government.
Dr Nagoda explained that the committee will embark on a massive campaign/awareness on the does and doesn’t regarding the further spread of the disease. “We advise patient relatives to desist from coming to the diphtheria center on visitation as they are bound to increase the further spread of the infection.
“We will provide emergency response numbers to reach out only on emergency cases. The Executive Governor of Kano State Alh Abba Kabir Yusuf has promised to all necessary to save the lives of the people.
In a related development, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the immediate implementation of several healthcare projects across Kano State, fulfilling his campaign promises. These projects, under the care of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, include:
1. The renovation of the maternity unit at Tiga Hospital, which was completely destroyed by fire in early 2023.
2. New equipment for the recently renovated Yadakunya Hospital (popularly known as Asibitin Bele).
3. Provision of equipment for Sheikh Jaafar Hospital.
4. Provision of equipment for IDH (popularly known as Asibitin Zana).
5. Complete renovation and equipping of Nuhu Bammalli Maternity Hospital.