{
  "id": 1325723,
  "title": "Zamfara moves to contain diphtheria, other preventable diseases",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/zamfara-moves-to-contain-diphtheria-other-preventable-diseases",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-16T17:01:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/zamfara-moves-to-contain-diphtheria-other-preventable-diseases/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a bid to curb the spread of diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases, the Zamfara State Ministry of Health, alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO), has ramped up surveillance and preparedness efforts. This initiative unfolded during a Surveillance and Routine Immunisation (RI) Review Meeting attended by Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) and Assistant Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (ADSNOs). The meeting evaluated surveillance activities concerning Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), vaccine-preventable diseases, and Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) documentation, paving the way for an upcoming OBR documentation exercise.\n\nDr Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, the Commissioner for Health, highlighted the meeting's focus on assessing the response to suspected diphtheria cases and devising strategies to curb community transmission. Speaking via a representative, the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Rilwanu Zurmi, urged surveillance officers to intensify monitoring, ensuring prompt sample collection and submission for laboratory confirmation. She emphasized that prompt and accurate sample collection is vital for precise diagnosis, reliable epidemiological data, and effective public health interventions.\n\nMaradun directed surveillance personnel to swiftly investigate suspected cases, guarantee proper sample transportation to designated labs, and enhance reporting from health facilities and communities. She also called for heightened collaboration among surveillance officers, health facilities, laboratory staff, and development partners to ensure early detection and swift response to potential cases. Dr Raji Mukhtar, the WHO State Coordinator in Zamfara, stressed the need for improved handling of suspected diphtheria cases in health facilities. Mukhtar also emphasized the importance of intensifying contact tracing and sharing pertinent information on suspected cases to enable rapid investigation and intervention. He assured the state government and development partners of WHO's continued backing in disease surveillance, laboratory confirmation, contact tracing, case management, and timely response. Both the state government and its allies pledged their enduring commitment to sustained surveillance and enhanced coordination to preclude and control diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases in Zamfara.",
  "summary": "The Zamfara State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has intensified surveillance and preparedness measures to prevent and control diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases in the state. The development was disclosed at a Surveillance and Routine Immunisation (RI) Review Meeting involving Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs)…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}