By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead in Imo State following the outbreak of the dreaded diphtheria disease with 4,017 persons already vaccinated to contain the spread in communities of Aboh Mbaise LGA of the State.
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, made the revelation Friday during a virtual media parley organized in Owerri , the Imo State capital, by the international body.
UNICEF’s Health Specialist, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, in an opening remark hinted that Diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae and became an outbreak in Imo State, with an index case reported in Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise LGA of the state.
He disclosed that UNICEF is supporting the Government of Nigeria’s response efforts in case management, infection prevention and control, reactive vaccination, risk communication and community engagement to contain the outbreak.
Akinleye who spoke on the theme: “Diphtheria Outbreak Response In Imo State,” stressed that with ten fatalities already recorded according to available statistics, it was imperative to restrict and contain the spread of the disease to prevent a possible ‘national disaster,’ considering that the Imo Airport ‘sits very close to Aboh Mbaise.’
He commended the Imo state Immunisation Officer, Dr Chibuzo Anyaehie for ensuring prompt vaccination of persons across the four affected council areas of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Owerri North and Owerri Municipal.
Speaking, Anyaehie said that 4,017 persons had already received the diphtheria vaccine, adding that the state has, so far, recorded 79 suspected cases and seven confirmed cases.
“ We have established treatment centres across all Primary Health Centres in Mbutu, and the Aboh General Hospital, with an additional 70 doses of vaccines just supplied,” she said.
In her contribution, UNICEF’s Communication Officer, Advocacy, Media, and Ext. Relations, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, thanked health intervention officers from the Imo State Ministry of Health for their efforts in containing the outbreak.
Dr. Onuoha -Ogwe charged journalists to adequately sensitize the general public on preventive management of the disease to curb its spread.
UNICEF’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist, Mrs Rebeccah Gabriel, harped on the need for regular hand washing with soap and running water as well as greater collaboration with traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders for effective grassroots sensitization.
Earlier in her opening remarks, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, commended the media for effective partnership and urged journalists to amplify awareness of the outbreak.
