FCTA refutes reports of deaths due to Measles in Abuja community
By Hudu Yakubu, Abuja
The authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has noted with dismay the viral news reporting the purported deaths of 10 children from measles in Damagaza community, emanating from the stable of the News Agency of Nigeria and shared by other news agencies.
The Administration through it Health Service and Environment Secretariat said in response to this news report, a multi sectoral team comprising of the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, the Director of Public Health, the State Epidemiologist, the State DSNO, Director PHC-PHCB, the AMAC Director PHC and other members of the Municipal Area Council Team and other high level officials went to Damagaza community to investigate and carry out due diligence.
In a statement signed by the mandate Secretary Health Service and Environment Secretariat Dr Adedolapo Fasawe said, “The team engaged with the community Head, the Mai Anguwa, the Women Leader, the Community volunteer and other significant key informants in the community.”
The Secretary said the community head stated emphatically that he was unaware of these rumored deaths adding that the health investigating team was unable to substantiate the rumors.
Dr Fasawe noted that the names of the children, their parents and their addresses could not be confirmed. Many of the names listed were not identifiable and some were demised 3 to 5 years ago.
According to her, “While measles is a vaccine preventable disease, a diagnosis of measles can only be made by a professional after a laboratory investigation. This was not done and the news outlet was unethical to announce an outbreak of measles without consultation with health officials.
“For the number of rumored deaths, it was strange that the village head of Damagaza community was unaware of these deaths in his community.”
Also, the head of the Hausawa settlement within the community, the women leader, the community informant and the Damagaza PHC facility workers and all key informants that were interviewed all debunked these rumors.
The dead children, their parents, their ages, sex and home addresses could not be verified.
The FCT Administration is therefore stating emphatically that the rumors of 10 deaths due to measles outbreak in Damagaza community, as reported by certain news media is false! We call on all citizens in the FCT to ignore the publications and go about their business peacefully.
She reassured all citizens that the FCT surveillance system is sensitive and active to prevent, detect or control outbreaks.
Dr Fasawe appealed to all news agencies to investigate every report thoroughly and substantiate reports through the right authorities before publishing.
The Secretary also send a strong message to all NGOs and Community-based organizations working in FCT to desist from setting up parallel surveillance structures in the communities and to desist from raising false alarm thereby causing panic in the communities for their organizational gains.
She said henceforth, any unsubstantiated report will not be tolerated by the government and purveyor of such misinformation will be sanctioned.
