By Hosea Parah
Health experts and disease surveillance officials in Kaduna State have called for sustained vaccination, community sensitisation and early reporting of suspected cases as diphtheria, cholera, and measles continue to pose public-health concerns across Northern Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with Daily NewsCraft Newspaper, the Executive Director of Kadashi Initiatives on Equity, Health Empowerment and Education (KIEHEE), Amos Kadashi Isuwa, a public health professional with experience in disease prevention, surveillance, health promotion and community interventions, stressed that the three diseases require strong preventive measures and rapid response.
Isuwa explained that diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which mainly affects the throat and airways and spreads through respiratory droplets.
He identified sore throat, fever, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, swollen neck, weakness and the development of a thick grey or white membrane in the throat as common symptoms.
According to him, although diphtheria can be life-threatening, it is largely preventable through vaccination.
He also described cholera as an acute bacterial intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae, usually transmitted through contaminated water or food.
The expert warned that sudden and profuse watery diarrhoea, vomiting, severe dehydration, weakness and shock are major symptoms of cholera, stressing that patients require immediate treatment and rehydration to prevent death.
On measles, Isuwa said it is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads mainly through the air.
He listed high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a characteristic skin rash among its symptoms, warning that measles could lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, severe dehydration, brain inflammation and death, particularly among young children.
He, therefore, urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive all recommended childhood vaccinations.
Also speaking, Bala Umar, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO), Kaduna North Local Government Area, said health authorities and surveillance teams had continued to strengthen case detection, reporting and community response.
Umar said disease surveillance activities had been ongoing since 2023, with health officials working closely with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, NCDC, primary healthcare authorities and development partners.
He noted that suspected cases are identified at community level and referred through primary healthcare facilities to secondary health facilities where necessary, including isolation and specialised treatment centres.
According to him, community sensitisation has played an important role in encouraging residents to report suspected cases early.
“We go into the communities for risk assessment and sensitisation. We work with the Rapid Response Teams and other stakeholders to ensure that suspected cases are identified and referred promptly,” Umar said.
He added that community leaders, local volunteers, security agencies, primary healthcare workers and development partners have been supporting surveillance activities.
Umar said the response mechanism had also benefited from logistical support, including motorcycles used by surveillance personnel for active case searches in communities.
The DSNO explained that once suspected cases are reported, the state response system is activated to facilitate investigation, sample collection, treatment and, where necessary, vaccination or isolation measures.
He commended the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, the Primary Health Care Board, NCDC and development partners for their contributions to disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Umar said disease surveillance officers across the state remained prepared to respond to alerts and conduct active case searches.
He disclosed that the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board had provided five machines to five LGAs in recognition of their surveillance efforts, while N100,000 was also given to each of the five LGA DSNOs as a token of support for active case searches.
He said other LGAs would also receive similar equipment.
Umar further commended the Director of Disease Control, Dr Abdullah, and the State DSNO, Madam Francisca, for their leadership and support for disease surveillance activities in the state.
Health experts emphasise that vaccination remains central to preventing diphtheria and measles, while safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and prompt treatment remain critical to controlling cholera.
They urged communities to avoid unsafe water sources, practise proper handwashing, use sanitary toilets, ensure proper disposal of waste and seek immediate medical attention when symptoms of the diseases appear.
They also called for continued community engagement, stronger routine immunisation, improved disease surveillance and rapid response to prevent localised outbreaks from escalating into wider public-health emergencies.