Healthcare Centres Move To Reduce Childhood Disease In Bauchi State

The Bauchi State Primary healthcare Development Agency says no fewer than 1,000 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) are providing routine immunization services to curb childhood disease in all the 20 local Government councils.

Incidence Manager, Emergency Operation Center (EOC), Salihu Idris said this on Tuesday.

Idris said that the agency also conducts outreach exercises to communities to fight the scourge through immunization.

He said; “The state has provided access to routine immunisation to fight under-five killer diseases.

“We conduct outreach to communities that are two kilometers away from the facilities and mobile outreach to communities that are five kilometers away from facilities across the state.

“Some 323 out of the over 1,000 PHCs have isolation centres for treatment of the outbreak.” 

Speaking on diphtheria, the EOC manager said that the state has strengthened its surveillance response teams across all the state borders.

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He said that “the agency is currently developing a preparedness plan for prompt response of diseases in the state.”

Idris said that health personnel were also trained on symptoms and case finding to fast track treatment.

“We also have alerted our health personnel to watch out for symptoms such as skin ulcers, thick gray-white coating that may cover the back of your throat, nose and tongue and haste isolation and further treatment.

“Diptheria is a bacterial and transmitted disease that children are immunized against.

“Children are immunised against diptheria from six, 10 and fourteen weeks of age using the pentavalent vaccine,” he said.

Idris called on the general public not to panic but report any child that presents with the symptoms to the nearest health facility.

He also urged the public to maintain Environmental and personal hygiene.

NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere