Diphtheria: Ondo government charges parents for child vaccination and personal hygiene
The Ondo State Government has urged parents in the state to ensure their children are fully immunized and maintain the highest standards of hygiene to reduce the risk of contracting diphtheria .
The Governor's Special Adviser for Health, Francis Faduyile, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Tuesday.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) recently reported 123 diphtheria cases and 38 deaths in four states.
While noting that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, Faduyile said keeping up to date with recommended vaccines is the best protection against the disease.
He said Ondo State had not recorded any cases of diphtheria but needed to be on alert as some neighboring states were already recording the outbreak of the disease.
According to him, diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that is spread by coughing and sneezing or by close contact with an infected person and which, if not treated quickly, can lead to death.
The special adviser said the disease, which usually affects children between the ages of one and six, can be treated if detected early.
“We have had cases of diphtheria in Lagos and they are following some people to Osun, and what we have done in Ondo State is to spread the information to the public.
"Diphtheria usually affects children. The truth about it is that it has a vaccine and what we need to do is make sure that our children are well vaccinated to guide them against the severity of the disease and the advocacy has begun.
"At the last state executive meeting, the Department of Health was asked to increase information so people know we have a new spread of diphtheria.
>"It's right for people to be aware so they can object to it so anyone who has it can be quarantined and shouldn't have contact with people so they don't pass it on to the next person.
"But the best way to take care of it is through vaccination. We should encourage all of our parents to ensure that all of our children receive the vaccine in their appropriate year.
"Parents should improve their hygiene and once you have this whooping cough, you go to the hospital.
"It's treatable once it's discovered early enough and people living around that place can be tracked, so it doesn't spread," he said.
(NAN)
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The Ondo State Government has urged parents in the state to ensure their children are fully immunized and maintain the highest standards of hygiene to reduce the risk of contracting diphtheria .
The Governor's Special Adviser for Health, Francis Faduyile, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Tuesday.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) recently reported 123 diphtheria cases and 38 deaths in four states.
While noting that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, Faduyile said keeping up to date with recommended vaccines is the best protection against the disease.
He said Ondo State had not recorded any cases of diphtheria but needed to be on alert as some neighboring states were already recording the outbreak of the disease.
According to him, diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that is spread by coughing and sneezing or by close contact with an infected person and which, if not treated quickly, can lead to death.
The special adviser said the disease, which usually affects children between the ages of one and six, can be treated if detected early.
“We have had cases of diphtheria in Lagos and they are following some people to Osun, and what we have done in Ondo State is to spread the information to the public.
"Diphtheria usually affects children. The truth about it is that it has a vaccine and what we need to do is make sure that our children are well vaccinated to guide them against the severity of the disease and the advocacy has begun.
"At the last state executive meeting, the Department of Health was asked to increase information so people know we have a new spread of diphtheria.
>"It's right for people to be aware so they can object to it so anyone who has it can be quarantined and shouldn't have contact with people so they don't pass it on to the next person.
"But the best way to take care of it is through vaccination. We should encourage all of our parents to ensure that all of our children receive the vaccine in their appropriate year.
"Parents should improve their hygiene and once you have this whooping cough, you go to the hospital.
"It's treatable once it's discovered early enough and people living around that place can be tracked, so it doesn't spread," he said.
(NAN)
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government.
For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.
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