FIC REPORT (NASARAWA STATE) – Fifteen cases of diphtheria have been confirmed in three Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, with children aged between two months and 11 years among those affected.
The Director of Public Health in the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Attah, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital.
Attah said 11 cases were recorded in Keffi Local Government Area, while Lafia and Wamba recorded three and one case, respectively.
He explained that the affected children were receiving medical attention at various health facilities across the state, including the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi.
According to him, investigations by health authorities showed that none of the affected children had been vaccinated against diphtheria, a potentially life-threatening vaccine-preventable disease.
The Director described the development as a wake-up call for intensified public awareness and immunization campaigns against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
He urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive all recommended routine vaccinations, stressing that immunization remains one of the most effective ways of preventing life-threatening diseases.
Attah also called on communities to support health authorities by promptly reporting suspected cases to the nearest health facility to facilitate early detection and treatment.
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
HEAD OF CENTRE,
FIC, LAFIA.
