The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has intensified sensitisation on diphtheria prevention and improved nutrition practices.
The campaign, through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), was declared open, at a media dialogue on Tuesday in Katsina.
The dialogue was tagged, ‘Media Dialogue on the Promotion of Nutrition Behaviours and Sensitisation on Diphtheria Outbreak’.
KSPHCDA’s Acting Executive Secretary, Dr Shaimau Abba, said the aim was to strengthen public awareness on appropriate nutrition practices and measures to prevent and control the spread of diphtheria.
Abba, represented by the state Health Educator, Dr Mukhtar Mahmud, said promoting balanced and adequate nutrition was critical to improving the health and well-being of residents, particularly women and children.
According to her, proper nutrition is essential for healthy growth and development, especially during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
She said the period, spanning pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, was crucial to the child’s physical and cognitive development.
She, however, posited that insecurity in some parts of the state increased malnutrition among vulnerable populations.
Abba said the dialogue was designed to promote appropriate nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices that would improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state.
Also speaking, the Asst. Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Lawal Aminu-Danja, further urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children received all routine vaccines, at the appropriate time.
Aminu-Danja said diphtheria, was a vaccine-preventable disease that could be effectively prevented through timely and complete immunisation.
“Diphtheria is an acute toxic infection caused by bacteria and mainly affects the respiratory system.” he said.
He explained that symptoms of the disease could include swelling of the neck, sore throat, fever, as well as difficulty in swallowing and breathing.
The asst. executive secretary urged members of the public to promptly seek medical attention whenever they noticed symptoms associated with the disease.
He also called on journalists to support ongoing efforts by the government and development partners to educate communities on routine immunisation, proper nutrition and other preventive health practices.
The dialogue brought together journalists and other stakeholders to strengthen media engagement in promoting positive nutrition behaviours and raising public awareness about the diphtheria outbreak in the state. (NAN)
