The Adamawa State Government has announced a series of comprehensive measures aimed at curbing the spread and impact of the recent Buruli ulcer outbreak in the state.
Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ADSPHDA, Dr. Sulaiman Bashir stated that the government is fully covering the cost of treatment for affected individuals. This includes free feeding, laboratory investigations, and medications for all admitted patients.
Bashir disclosed that a special ward has also been dedicated to Buruli ulcer cases at the State Specialist Hospital, Yola, supported by a multidisciplinary team of plastic surgeons, orthopedists, and microbiologists.
Dr. Bashir said the government had to intensify community engagement campaigns after health teams initially met stiff resistance from patients and families in affected communities.
Many victims, he lamented, either avoided health facilities altogether or abandoned treatment midway, thereby worsening their conditions and increasing public health risks.
He noted that misconceptions, stigma, and late presentation have complicated the response, as many patients now arrive with chronic ulcers requiring complex surgical and microbiological interventions beyond the capacity of primary health centres.
“Some patients came very late, when their wounds had already been badly contaminated. To get reliable test results, we had to clean the wounds and take tissue samples for histology. By then, the damage was already advanced,” he explained.
The ADSPHDA boss linked the resistance to treatment to low literacy, poverty, and poor nutrition among disadvantaged groups, stressing that social misconceptions have worsened the situation.
He also appealed to media practitioners to avoid sensationalist coverage that could discourage patients from seeking care, urging instead for collaborative reportage that fosters trust in health facilities.
“Our intent is not to scare people. We want to build confidence in the system and encourage early care-seeking. This disease is manageable, but only if patients come in time,” Dr. Bashir emphasised.
While noting that some of the most severe cases showed improvements within four days of care, Dr. Bashir maintained that collective action is crucial.
He called on community leaders, civil society groups, and the media to work with health authorities in combating apathy, stigma, and ignorance.
“Buruli ulcer can affect any community. The lesson here is clear: apathy and mistrust only worsen the burden. We must unite to promote early treatment and protect lives,” he added.
Buruli ulcer, a debilitating skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, recently broke out in parts of Adamawa State, leaving many victims with severe wounds and prompting urgent government intervention.