The Kano State Government has constituted a Special Committee on Diphtheria Outbreak Response following reports of suspected diphtheria cases and deaths in some Local Government Areas, with particular concern over the situation in Rano Local Government Area.
The committee, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar Ahmad, is expected to strengthen and coordinate ongoing response efforts while conducting a comprehensive assessment of the outbreak and implementing urgent measures to prevent further spread to neighbouring local government areas.
The committee is chaired by the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, while the Director-General of the State Primary Healthcare Management Board (SPHCMB), Prof. Salisu A. Ibrahim, is a member.
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Other members include the Executive Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mansur M. Nagoda; Director of Disease Control, SPHCMB, Dr. Tijjani Habibu; Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Aliyu Umar; and the State Epidemiologist, KNCDC, Sulaiman Iliyasu Hamisu.
Representatives of the Kano, Rano, Karaye and Gaya Emirate Councils are also members of the committee, while Hussaini Rufai, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, KNCDC, serves as Secretary.
The committee has been mandated to carry out a comprehensive investigation to verify reported diphtheria cases and deaths across affected LGAs and determine the extent of the outbreak.
It will also strengthen disease surveillance across the state by ensuring daily reporting from Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, particularly in areas considered at risk.
Another key responsibility is the establishment of a centralised data registry to enable health authorities to effectively track suspected and confirmed cases, monitor developments and coordinate interventions.
The committee is further expected to identify gaps in immunisation coverage through intensified community mobilisation and sensitisation campaigns, while ensuring that essential medicines, vaccines and other medical commodities are available and supplied promptly to designated treatment centres.
The state government said the committee would work closely with health personnel in affected local government areas to ensure a coordinated response, rapid sharing of information, early detection of suspected cases and effective management of confirmed infections.
The involvement of representatives from the four emirate councils is also expected to strengthen community engagement and public awareness, particularly given the important role of traditional institutions in mobilising residents and encouraging compliance with public health measures.
The government urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected cases to the nearest health facility or relevant health authorities.
It also appealed to community leaders and other stakeholders to cooperate with health officials by supporting surveillance, immunisation, community sensitisation and other measures being implemented to contain the outbreak.
The government assured residents that it remained committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of the people of Kano State, promising to take all necessary measures to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread to other parts of the state.