The Federal Capital Territory Administration has stepped up measures to contain diphtheria following five laboratory-confirmed cases and two deaths recorded in the territory.
The FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this during a community sensitisation and advocacy campaign at the Emir of Karshi’s Palace in Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Fasawe, who represented the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said 15 suspected cases had been investigated as of the end of the previous week, with 10 subsequently ruled out and five confirmed through laboratory testing.
She said the administration activated a multidisciplinary Incident Management Team immediately after confirmation of the cases.
According to her, response teams are conducting active case searches, tracing and monitoring contacts, collecting samples for laboratory testing and sensitising health workers on early detection, infection prevention and prompt reporting.
Fasawe said surveillance and vaccination teams had been deployed to priority communities, including Angwan Kokosa and surrounding settlements, to identify suspected cases and children who had missed routine immunisation.
She urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated, stressing that vaccination remains the most effective way of preventing diphtheria.
The Mandate Secretary also advised residents to seek immediate medical attention when symptoms such as fever, sore throat, neck swelling and difficulty swallowing or breathing occur.
She warned against attempting to scrape or remove any membrane from an affected person’s throat, saying such action could result in severe bleeding, shock and death.
Fasawe directed private health facilities to promptly isolate and refer suspected cases while notifying the appropriate disease surveillance officers.
She also appealed to traditional and religious leaders, teachers, school authorities and community associations to support government efforts, tackle misinformation and encourage residents to embrace vaccination.
The Supervisory Councillor for Health, AMAC, Nuhu Usman, pledged the council’s continued support for surveillance, vaccination and timely reporting of suspected cases.
The Emir of Karshi, represented by the Hakimi of Karshi, Alhaji Ahmed Doka, also pledged the traditional institution’s cooperation in mobilising residents and reporting suspected cases.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said it was providing technical support to the FCT response, while the World Health Organisation reiterated that diphtheria is vaccine-preventable.
The WHO representative in the FCT, Imabong Adebayo, urged communities to increase routine immunisation uptake, assuring residents that vaccines are free, safe and available.
The FCT Administration has consequently urged residents to embrace three key measures — vaccinate, report suspected cases early and protect one another.