THE Edo State Government on Monday deployed 70 doses of anti-diphtheria vaccines to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where two people died last week of the disease.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, stated this shortly after donating the vaccines to the hospital.
He said the government also got some doses from neighbouring Delta State but expressed worry that the disease was spreading beyond the expected scope.
He said people who had been fully vaccinated were infected, including people above age five who were not expected to be infected.
He said, “We are working in collaboration with the UBTH and National Centre for Disease Control.
“We have spoken with the DG of NCDC and he graciously released 70 doses of anti-diphtheria.
We also reached out to Delta State Ministry of Health and they have been able to give us 20 doses.
“We are still studying the situation because some of those who are currently down with diphtheria have a history of full immunisation.
“We also try to see why someone who is 14 years old has the disease.”
The commissioner said the government had contacted the national body of Primary Health Care to give clearance to immunise children above the age of five.
“With what is going on, now we might need to immunise adults, including health workers,” he added.
Oshiomhole said Governor Monday Okpebholo had approved the donation of beds and fittings and other items to the emergency centre in the hospital and possibly offset the medical bills of patients.
Receiving the commissioner at UBTH, the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Prof Stanley Okugbo and the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee who is also the Consultant in charge of Children Emergency in the hospital, Dr Fidelis Eki-Udoko, said the hospital was grateful for the swift response.
He said all diphtheria patients were responding to treatment and urged the public to report symptoms early.
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