Following the outbreak of incidences of diarrhoea and cholera across some states in Nigeria, the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Kano State says it has mobilised a rapid medical response interventions to combat the diseases in the state.
To this end, the state government in partnering local and international donor agencies that would expend the sum of N130 million on the first round of 2018 Maternal, New-born and Child Health Programmes, as well as a special intervention initiative to prevent and control epidemics in the state.
Kabiru Ibrahim Getso, Kano State commissioner for health, revealed that out of the total amount set aside for the programmes, N98 million was provided for health care services to be given free-of-charge to mothers and children under five years during the MNCH week (running from August 13 to 17).
In order to address, the case of diarrhoea and cholera, he said the sum of N32 million is to be spend by the state government to prevent and control all forms of epidemic throughout the 44 local government areas in the state.
Speaking specifically, on the MNCH week, Kabiru disclosed that the week long programme would entails a range of high impact low cost interventions to be offer to pregnant women and children under the age of 5 years.
According to him, the aim of the programme was to increase the coverage levels of some important preventive and curative health indicators that allow mothers and children to thrive and develop, in addition to provide opportunity to deliver health services for mother, newborn and child through existing health system.
“The last round of MNCH week was conducted in November 2017 has recorded successes, with vitamin A coverage at more than 80%. In the same manner, this round is expected to achieve greater coverage considering the increased support by both Government and partners.
“This round of MNCH which will be conducted from 13th to 17th of August 2018, would render the following services: Antenatal services, including malaria prophylaxis for pregnant women, Vitamin A supplementation, de-worming of children, immunisation of the under 5 children.
“Other services to be render are: Nutritional status screening, Insecticide treated bed nets distribution, Birth registration, Health education and demonstration of key household practices, such as hand washing, personal hygiene, exclusive breast feeding, complimentary feeding, and use of LLINs, etc.
“Kano State government, in collaboration with partners, is spending about N98 million to make these services available free of charge” he explained.
Commenting on the current situation of outbreak of cholera in the country, Kabiru confirmed that the state is among the 17 other states: Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau, Yobe, and Zamfara, affected by the outbreak.
“From 1st to 29th of July 2018, a total of 18,205 suspected cases have been reported in the 17 states (CFR:1.30%) out of which more than 300 were laboratory confirmed. Within the same period, Kano State has recorded about 400 suspected cases of acute watery diarrhea with 50 confirmed cases of cholera across 33 LGAs.
“Since the outbreak, the State Government through the Ministry of Health has instituted several control measures to combat this outbreak. These measures include: Mounting of continuous surveillance for all epidemic prone diseases, active search for cases of diarrhoea and cholera.
Also, Approval of N32 million to prevent and control epidemic in the state; setting up of Rapid Response Team, provision & prepositioning of emergency medical supply and consumables in facilities, among other measures,” the commissioner noted.
