Eko Hot Blog reports that the Ministry of Health has set up an emergency task force to curb the spread of diphtheria in the country.
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In a statement released by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, on Thursday, Muhammad Pate, stated that it is the chief objective of the task force to operate in an emergency mode to prevent the further spread of diphtheria and as well provide relief materials to affected communities across the country.
Pate said his team will collaborate with governors hit by the disease for mobilisation, funding and ownership of materials.
The task force set up is to be co-chaired by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Ifedayo Adetifa.
Other members of the task force include the Director of Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Anyaike Chukwuma; representatives from the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Federal Ministry of Information and the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery (NTLC).
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the upper respiratory tracts, which causes swelling in the neck. It is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium.
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Symptoms of the disease include: fever, nausea, swelling in the neck, runny nose, red eyes, cough and sore throat.
The 14 affected states include: Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Katsina, Gombe,Osun, Borno, Zamfara, Federal Capital Territory, Jigawa, Plateau and Yobe. Kano is reported as the epicentre.
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