.jpeg "FG plans to use a vaccination to stop the spread of diphtheria, according to Pate")
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has stated that the Nigerian government intends to utilize vaccines as a means of managing the diphtheria outbreak.
As per his statement, a significant majority of the children impacted by the disease, specifically 98 percent, have not received immunization
In a similar vein, the government intends to initiate the implementation of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination starting on October 24, 2023, with the aim of mitigating the incidence of cervical cancer among adolescent females inside the nation.
During the quarterly review meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders' Committee on Primary Health Care Service Delivery, which was organized by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), the government's dedication to effectively manage the diphtheria outbreak was reiterated by Pate. Furthermore, Pate emphasized the government's proactive approach in collaborating with state governments and development partners to promptly eradicate the disease within the 19 northern states, thereby preventing its further spread.
The author observed that diphtheria is a disease that may be prevented with vaccination. They expressed concern over the fact that 98 percent of the affected children did not receive any immunization. Furthermore, they emphasized that if these children had been immunized, they would not have contracted diphtheria.
The utilization of vaccines will be employed as a means to effectively manage the current diphtheria epidemic. Had the youngsters had vaccination, they would have been protected against diphtheria. However, it is imperative that we address this issue promptly as the transmission of the virus does not exhibit any form of prejudice. Hence, an emergency task group was established, spearheaded by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in collaboration with various development partners, with the objective of effectively addressing and resolving this issue," as stated by the individual.
The minister emphasized the crucial role of traditional leaders as guardians of cultural heritage in the education, dissemination of information, and supervision of the measures taken to manage the diphtheria outbreak.
Pate, who made an appeal to monarchs in order to encourage their subjects to embrace the HPV vaccine, conveyed the message that the vaccine possesses a high level of safety and efficacy.
The individual expressed that the forthcoming launch of the HPV vaccine on October 24 represents a significant milestone. This vaccine holds the potential to not only prevent cervical cancer in future years, but also to enhance our commitment to public health and improve the efficacy of vaccine delivery within our healthcare system. The program caters to several demographic groups.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has urged traditional leaders to collaborate with their respective State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDAs) and educational authorities in order to ensure the smooth implementation of HPV vaccination programs. This collaboration aims to utilize traditional platforms as effective means to disseminate accurate and crucial information about HPV vaccines.