Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, has met with the Sokoto, Kaduna and Zamfara states Commissioners for Health over the spread of an identfied disease killing children.
The meeting, according to a statement on the NCDC’s website, held at the NCDC’s headquarters in Abuja.
The NCDC had on April 9 announced that it had launched an investigation to unravel an unidentified disease, which had killed 164 children of between four and 13 years in Sokoto State.
According to the latest statement, the disease, which originated from Sokoto and Zamfara states, has spread to Kaduna State.
“The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, hosted an emergency meeting with two honourable Commissioners for Health from Sokoto and Kaduna States on April 16, 2024, at NCDC’s Headquarters Abuja and also spoke on the telephone with Zamfara State’s Commissioner for Health, to unravel the cause as well as contain and mitigate the impact of the ongoing incidents of unknown origin in both Sokoto and Zamfara States.
“The honourable Commissioners, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, Dr Aisha Anka, and Hajiya Umma Ahmed, discussed the current situation, provided updates on response efforts, and agreed with the DG of NCDC on further measures to contain and mitigate the impact of the illness suspected to be heavy metal poisoning possibly linked to mining activities,” the statement read.
The NCDC boss, on April 9, said the agency was investigating and responding to the strange illness identified in six wards in Sokoto state.
Idris said the agency deployed a National Rapid Response Team to work with the Sokoto State Ministry of Health to respond to the incidents.
He said the health commissioners of the three states provided updates to the NCDC and they discussed how to mitigate the impact of the illness on the populace.
“The honourable Commissioners (Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, Dr Aisha Anka, and Hajiya Umma Ahmed) discussed the current situation, provided updates on response efforts, and agreed with the DG of NCDC on further measures to contain and mitigate the impact of the illness suspected to be heavy metal poisoning possibly linked to mining activities.
“As of today, a total of 196 suspected cases of the unknown illness with seven deaths have been reported across Isa, Sabon Birni, and Ilella Local Government Areas of Sokoto State. Results of the analyses on the various samples sent to the different sister laboratories including NIPRID, NAFDAC, and NIMR are being awaited.
“Following reports of similar cases in Zamfara State, another National Rapid Response Team will be deployed this week to assess the situation and provide support to the state,” the statement noted.
The agency urged affected and nearby communities even in Kaduna State, given its proximity to Sokoto and Zamfara states, to report any symptoms, including fever, abdominal swelling and pain, vomiting, and weight loss to the nearest health facility or call NCDC toll-free line (6232)
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