Prevention ; The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has stepped up preventive and emergency response measures to protect residents from diseases commonly associated with the rainy season across the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmad, said on Monday that the ministry has activated comprehensive strategies aimed at preventing outbreaks of communicable diseases and ensuring a swift response to public health emergencies.
She explained that the ministry is working closely with Primary Healthcare Centres, relevant government agencies, and development partners to strengthen disease surveillance, improve emergency preparedness, and enhance response capacity throughout the rainy season.
According to her, the interventions focus on preventing malaria, cholera, acute watery diarrhoea, typhoid fever, pneumonia, measles, and other communicable diseases, as well as health risks arising from flooding.
She noted that the ministry has reinforced the state’s Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system to ensure the early detection of suspected disease outbreaks through routine reporting, laboratory confirmation, and coordinated action by the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
According to her, Rapid Response Teams have also been placed on alert to investigate and contain any outbreak before it spreads.
Ahmad further disclosed that the state has procured and pre-positioned cholera response commodities, including essential preventive materials and antibiotics, to ensure prompt intervention in the event of an outbreak.
On malaria prevention, she said the ministry has intensified the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, supplied health facilities with rapid diagnostic test kits and anti-malaria medicines, and expanded public awareness campaigns on environmental sanitation to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
The commissioner added that the ministry is collaborating with the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) and other relevant institutions to identify flood-prone communities and implement measures aimed at preventing disease outbreaks linked to flooding.
She said contingency plans are also in place to provide medical assistance to affected communities, including the referral of patients requiring specialised care to appropriate health facilities.
Ahmad called on residents to complement the government’s efforts by maintaining proper hygiene, drinking safe and clean water, washing hands regularly with soap, consuming hygienically prepared food, and following public health advisories throughout the rainy season.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents through proactive interventions, effective disease surveillance, and timely response to emerging public health threats.(NAN)
