The United Nations Fund for La Nación (UNICEF) has revealed that the current diphtheria outbreak in parts of the IMO state has gained ten lives.
The international agency also revealed that 4,017 people have so far been vaccinated with the diphtheria vaccine as part of the efforts to combat the disease.
The UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, announced this during a virtual media parley organized by the Fund in Owerri on Friday.
According to the information collected by the Tribune Nigeria, the diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, emerged in the state of the IMO with the index case tracked to MBUTU in the area of the local government of Aboh Mbaise.
Currently, UNICEF supports the response of the Nigerian government through case management, prevention and control of infections, reactive vaccination, risk communication and community participation to help contain outbreak.
Speaking on the subject, the response to the diphtheria outbreak in the state of Imo, Dr. Akinleye said that with ten deaths already registered, urgent measures were needed to contain the disease and avoid what he described as a possible “national disaster”, especially because the airport “feels very close to Aboh Mbaise.”
He praised the IMO state immunization officer, Dr. Chibuzo Anyaehie, for guaranteeing the rapid vaccination of people in the four areas of the affected council: Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Owerri North and Owerri Municipal.
Also speaking during the session, Dr. Chibuzo Anyaehie confirmed that 4,017 people had been vaccinated. He added that the State had registered 79 suspicious cases of diphtheria, with seven confirmed cases.
“We have established treatment centers in all primary health centers in MBUTU and at the General Hospital of ABOH, with 70 additional doses of vaccines that have just supplied,” he said.
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The UNICEF Communications Officer, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-GWE, expressed his gratitude to the health intervention officers of the IMO Ministry of State for their efforts in the management of the outbreak. He urged journalists to help increase public awareness about preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease.
Adding its voice, UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene specialist (Wash), Mrs. Rebekah Gabriel, emphasized the importance of regular hand washing with soap and soap. He asked for a stronger collaboration with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders to guarantee effective basic awareness.
Previously in his comments, the head of the UNICEF enugu field office, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, thanked the media for their continuous association and asked them to amplify the public awareness about the outbreak.
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