By Asmau Ahmad
Updated data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has indicated that the death toll from the deadly diphtheria infection in Kano state has risen to 100.
The NCDC also confirmed that Bauchi State confirmed the death of 26 residents linked to the disease across 10 of the 20 local councils.
According to the agency, the figures were as of July 30, 2023, adding that the present figure is against 76 deaths reported in June.
The NCDC noted that 4,160 suspected cases were reported at the end of July, of which 1,534 were confirmed.
Kano has the highest burden of the deadly outbreak with 3,234 suspected cases, of which 1,207 turned out positive.
In a meeting held with representatives of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Governor Abba Yusuf solicited sustainable partnerships with the foundation, more especially in the areas of immunisation.
Chairman of Kano Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, while giving an update on the disease situation, yesterday, in Bauchi, explained that there were 180 suspected cases, 22 suspected deaths and four confirmed deaths from the disease.
According to the Diphtheria Outbreak Situation Report data of August 23, the 10 councils worst hit are Bauchi, Dambam, Darazo, Ganjuwa, Giade, Itas/Gadau, Jama’are, Katagum, Misau, Ningi and Shira.
Mohammed said the northern part of the state recorded more cases than the south because of its proximity to Yobe and Kano states.
He revealed that some victims in the rural areas died of suspected cases of the disease before getting tested.
The PHCDA, on its part, said N96.9 million has been released for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to care for vulnerable groups under the programme in the state.
Mohammed made this known on Thursday, at a media quarterly meeting organised by the United States Agency for International Development Integrated Health Programme in collaboration with Journalists for Public Health and Development on budget performance and health finance reform.
He explained that the fund is N300,000 for each of the 323 Primary Healthcare facilities in every political ward to cater for the vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of J4PD, Elizabeth Kah, appealed to journalists to develop more interest in health reporting and follow the government’s budget and releases to ensure that public health gets the desired attention.
She said, “We should not just end our report at where the governor presents the budget and his assent to the document. There is an Abuja Declaration, which says that 15 per cent of the government’s budgetary allocation should go to health.
“We need to know how much this 15 per cent is and how much of it is being released.”
Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Bauchi Contributory Health Management Agency, Rahama Musa, said thousands of Bauchi residents across both formal and informal sectors were benefiting from the scheme.
