The Yobe State government has received various medical supplies from the World Health Organization (WHO) in an effort to further contain the disease outbreak that claimed the lives of over 20 susceptible individuals.
Pharmacist Katugwa Emmanuel accepted the supplies at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu on behalf of Dr. Kumshida Yakubu Balami, the WHO Interim Northeast Emergency Manager. She stated that the supplies will not only help the medical staff but also the patients and their families.
“As you are aware, Yobe State is bedevilled with multiple outbreaks of diseases from last year to the beginning of this year. We started responding fully to the diphtheria outbreak and by the grace of God, we were containing it but suddenly, we had this cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak which started in February 2024,” he said.
He stated that they were observing a distinct pattern of meningitis, specifically type “C,” in children younger than two years old who receive their regular immunization.
“Hopefully, we expect that our healthcare workers, patients and their relatives will all be protected so as to contain the outbreaks to its barest minimum,” he said.
Dr. Lawan Gana, the Commissioner of Health, expressed gratitude to WHO and clarified that the supplies would improve the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
