Zamfara State Ministry of Health and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have launched a house-to-house search for suspected diphtheria cases in Gusau Local Government Area as part of efforts to contain the disease.
Health teams are visiting communities to identify suspected cases early, prevent further transmission and ensure patients are promptly referred for treatment.
During the exercise, residents are also being educated on diphtheria symptoms and the importance of seeking medical attention as soon as they notice possible signs of the disease.
Suspected cases identified by the teams are being referred to designated treatment facilities, including the Infectious Diseases Centre in Damba and the Primary Health Care facility in Kwata.
The Zamfara Ministry of Health said patients and caregivers at the designated centres are receiving free healthcare and food, alongside further medical assessment and treatment.
The intervention also includes strengthening infection prevention and control measures, improving the capacity of healthcare workers and supporting community-level efforts to stop the spread of diphtheria.
The ministry said water, sanitation and hygiene facilities at the treatment centres were also being improved to ensure safer infection prevention and control practices.
The Director of Public Health, Dr Yusuf Abubakar Haske, commended the collaboration and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting residents and containing disease outbreaks.
The ministry and MSF urged Gusau residents to cooperate with health teams during the house-to-house search and report suspected diphtheria cases promptly to health authorities for assessment and treatment.
