Kaduna state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Jonathan Andrew Nok, has confirmed six cases of Lassa fever in the state.
Nok, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Ibrahim S. Jere, announced this at a one-day Interactive Dialogue on Routine Immunisation, Budget Scorecard And Government; Priorities in Child and Family Health.
He said a total 38 suspected cases of Lassa fever were recorded in Kaduna state where six were confirmed to be positive.
He added that the three victims from Zangon Kataf died before being diagnosed, even as two confirmed cases were successfully treated and discharged and the remaining case from Chikun local government “is presently receiving treatment at the Infection Control, Centre, Kakuri, Kaduna.”
The commissioner said a total number of 126, 398 pregnant women were tested for HIV, and 354 were found to be positive and were referred for anti-retroviral therapy.
Similarly, six communities were selected alongside 60 community tuberculosis workers who went on house-to-house search in the selected areas of the state where five per cent cases of TB was detected and hence benefitted from the free treatment.
According to him, the state government has released the sum of N 37,574,258 to UNICEF as a contribution for the procurement of therapeutic food supplements “and that the state has started receiving the food supplements which are currently being used for community management of acute malnutrition in Zaria.”
Other beneficiaries are Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Hajia Gambo Sawaba Memorial Hospital, Zaria, General Hospital, Makarfi, Birnin Gwari, Kachia and Jema’a.
