TheCable

The National Primary Health Care Department Agency (NPHCDA) says diphtheria has killed 20 persons in Kaduna state.

Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the agency, spoke with journalists on Wednesday after visiting the Kaduna diphtheria treatment centre.

He said Kaduna has recorded 156 cases of the disease since March, adding that the state is ranked among the seven with the highest number of diphtheria.

“We are at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital where mild to moderate cases are being attended to before being admitted to the infectious disease hospitals,” he said.

“That is high for diphtheria, but we also recognize that most of the patients are presented lately.

“There is also a need for the media to step up in creating awareness and providing useful information to the public about the existence of the disease.”

Shuaib said there is a need for patients with the disease to be presented in good time for vaccination.

He said the outbreak of the disease was due to low population immunity, created by low vaccination coverage.

“Diphtheria is a preventable disease and about 80 percent of those afflicted by the diseases did not present themselves for vaccination,” he added.