By Ogochukwu Isioma
Edo State Government on Monday said it has taken delivery of 90 doses of anti-diphtheria vaccines, where 70 have been deployed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole disclosed this shortly after donating the vaccines to UBTH where he said the state government has also received some doses from neighbouring Delta state.
He expressed worry that the disease is going beyond expected scope as people that had been fully vaccinated were found to be infected including people beyond age five who are not expected to be infected.
Oshiomhole said, “We are working in collaboration with UBTH and NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control), we have spoken with the DG of NCDC and he graciously released 70 doses of anti-Diphtheria and we also reached out to Delta State Ministry of Health and they have been able to give us another 20 doses.
“We are still studying the situation because some of those who are down with Diptheria have a history of full immunization, we also try to see why someone who is 14-years-old have the disease, we are talking to the national body of Primary Health Care to give us clearance if we can immunize children above the age of five because with what is going on now, we might need to immunize adults including health workers.”
The commissioner added that Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the donation of beds and fittings and other items to the emergency centre at the UBTH and possibly offset the medical bills of patients.
Chairman of the UBTH’s Medical Advisory Committee, Professor Stanley Okugbo who received the commissioner on behalf of the hospital management, said UBTH was grateful for the swift response from the state government and that all diphtheria patients were responding to treatment as they urged the public to report symptoms early.
He gave signs and symptoms of the disease to include thick, gray membranes covering the throat and tonsils. A sore throat and hoarseness. Swollen glands in the neck (neck swelling). Difficulty with breathing or rapid breathing. Nasal discharge. Fever chills, and tiredness.
“Diphtheria is best prevented through vaccination and maintaining good hygiene,” he said. “The disease spreads through direct contact with infected individuals, often via respiratory droplets like those produced when coughing or sneezing.
“Prevention is best done by Washing hands with soap and clean running water is an effective step to prevent infection, one of which is diphtheria.”
Two people last week died of the diphtheria at the UBTH in Benin City, in what seemed to be an outbreak of the ailment in Edo State.
