The FCT Administration, FCTA, has intensified its efforts to prevent and control diphtheria through increased community sensitisation, health education and engagement with traditional institutions across the Territory
The Director, FCT Public Health Department, Dr. Theresa Nwachukwu, last Thursday, led a team from the Department on an advocacy and sensitisation visit to the palace of the Agụma of Gwagwalada, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, where stakeholders discussed measures to strengthen community awareness, surveillance, vaccination and early response to suspected diphtheria cases.
Nwachukwu stated that the advocacy and sensitisation visit was undertaken in line with the strategic direction and strong commitment of the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat to strengthening the FCT Administration’s response to diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
She emphasised that, under the leadership of the Mandate Secretary, the Health Services and Environment Secretariat continues to drive coordinated efforts in vaccination, disease surveillance, health promotion, community engagement, early detection and prompt response to suspected cases, to protect residents across the Federal Capital Territory.
She highlighted the important role of traditional institutions in strengthening disease prevention efforts, noting that traditional rulers and community leaders remain critical partners in mobilising residents, promoting vaccination and encouraging the early reporting and referral of suspected cases.
The Director stressed that diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease and urged parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children receive their routine immunisations, particularly zero-dose and under-immunised children who may be at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The engagement brought together medical doctors from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, UATH, Gwagwalada, representatives of the World Health Organisation, WHO, and UNICEF, various district heads, the Local Immunisation Officer, the Area Council Health Educator and members of the Health Promotion and Education team of the FCT Public Health Department.
Stakeholders discussed the need to strengthen community-based surveillance, vaccination uptake, early detection, prompt reporting and referral, as well as sustained community engagement to support the prevention and control of diphtheria within Gwagwalada and the wider FCT.
