Ibrahim Muhammad

Kano State Government said over 520 children feared dead in a recent diphtheria out break in the state.

Director General Kano state Primary HealthCare management Board Dr. Muhammed Nasir Mahmoud confirmed this while speaking at a one day media orientation for media practitioner on diphtheria outbreak in Kano held on Tuesday.

He said since the outbreak of the disease in December 2022 kano state has recorded 8700 suspected cases out of which 6300 were confirmed cases.

He said out of the 44 LGAs of Kano state, the Diphtheria disease has spread to 39 LGAs with eight most affected where zero routine immunization was recorded.

According to him” only 27% children were fully vaccinated, 7.5% partly vaccinated, 59.9% not vaccinated and 5.5% unknown”

He said Kano state government with support from Federal Government and development partners are working closely to end the disease by December, 2023.

UNICEF Health Manager Dr. Serekeberehan S. Deres said the situation of children who have not received a single doses of immunization is critical, totally unacceptable and urgently need to be addressed.

According to NCDC “data shows, 60,7 per cent of confirmed cases of Diphtheria are zero-dose, meaning they have not been vaccinated at all”

He said some of the symptoms of the disease include, sore throat, difficulty in breath or rapid breathing, nasal discharge, fever and chills.

He noted that Nigeria needs to strengthen the Routine Immunization coverage to
address this challenge.

Dr Deres therefore called on the participants to be in the vanguard of sensitizing and mobilizing caregivers, government, families, communities, and everyone, on the importance of Routine Immunization.

It was reported that 80% of diphtheria cases was recorded in Kano state and out of which 60.8 are children.

The Kano State Government (KNSG) has pledged to maintain its current level of funding for HIV/AIDS initiatives in the state. This commitment comes as the support from partner organizations gradually decreases, prompting the government to take ownership and ensure sustainability.

Dr. Usman Bashir, the Director General of the Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS, announced this during the closing of a two-day workshop organized by the Agency. The workshop received support from Solina International Development and Research (SCIDaR) and took place at Hotel Seventeen in Kaduna on Sunday.

Dr. Usman Bashir explained that the purpose of the workshop was to finalize and align the Agency’s Annual Operations Plans with those of its supporting partners. This alignment aims to strengthen HIV/AIDS activities in the upcoming year of 2024, minimizing duplication and the wastage of scarce resources by reallocating them to areas of greater need.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KSACA) is actively planning and preparing its team to implement activities independently as an implementing partner. This shift in approach is necessary as donor support is dwindling. The agency is also dedicated to enhancing the capacity of its staff to ensure long-term ownership and sustainability of HIV/AIDS programs.

Dr. Usman Bashir expressed his appreciation for all partners involved in the HIV response in the state. He acknowledged their participation in showcasing their Tentative Annual Operations Plans (AOP) during the workshop, which allowed for harmonization and input from stakeholders.

This engagement, a first of its kind for the agency, resulted in a comprehensive AOP with detailed costings, awaiting finalization in the State Budget. The Kano State Government remains committed to addressing the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS, ensuring that essential funding is sustained despite the decrease in partner support