By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Executive Committee (FCT EXCO), has called on health agencies in the territory to put in place all necessary healthcare preemptive measures against the emergence of an outbreak of the deadly childhood disease known as Diphtheria.
The FCT EXCO gave this directive in its meeting held on Monday in Gwarinpa I District, Abuja.
According to the directive, the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCT Administration is to ensure increased surveillance and awareness creation and sensitization by all its relevant agencies, to curb the risk of the disease emerging and spreading within the territory.
The Exco urged the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat to join forces with the Area Council Services Secretariat, and Chairmen of the six Area Councils immediately with relevant technical Partners in order to prevent the disease before it spreads to the FCT.
It further urgged Health and Human Services Secretariat to synergize with stakeholders to ensure massive sensitization of all residents to further minimize the risk of contracting the ailment as cases have been reported in some states around the FCT.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by the organism referred to as Corynebacterium diphtheria which affects the throat, nose, and sometimes, skin of unvaccinated children and rarely adults with poor immunity. The symptoms of the disease also include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty in breathing.
Diphtheria spreads easily between people through direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing, and contact with contaminated clothing and objects, thereby underscoring the importance of hygiene and environmental sanitation in the prevention. The people most at risk are the unvaccinated and those who live in crowded areas and/or where there is poor sanitation.
To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, children are expected to get fully vaccinated with three (3) doses of the Pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the National childhood immunization schedule. The FCT immunization coverage currently stands at 83%, against the national average of 57%, though at least 95% of all children are expected to be vaccinated to assure herd immunity, thereby preventing spread.
Meanwhile, The the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has been directed to restrict the activities of the Point of Sales (POS) operators scattered around the Federal Capital City to only commercial areas because of security concerns.
FCT EXCO observed that POS is a commercial enterprise, and, therefore, should be conducted only in the designated commercial areas.
Aside from the security implications, the activities of POS operators also create environmental nuisances as they serve to attract other commercial activities, thereby generating uncontrolled waste.
The EXCO reemphasizes the importance that the present leadership of the FCT Administration places on the security and well-being of the residents and assures that it will take every necessary measure to protect all Nigerians and visitors residing in Abuja.
