Members of the public have been urged to take advantage of the Lagos State free immunization programmes to prevent further outbreaks and adhere to public health advisories.
The advise came in response to an outbreak of diphtheria at King’s College Annexe, where a 12-year old boy who presented with sore throat and fever was diagnosed to have diphtheria.
In response to the outbreak, the Lagos State Government began an emergency vaccination exercise to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease and to safeguard public health, having traced the contacts and found out that 14 out of the 34 pupils identified were down with mild symptoms.
Further examinations revealed that, of the 14, 12 pupils had early symptoms and had to undergo treatment.
To this end, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi and other top officials, visited the school to assess the situation and oversee the vaccination campaign.
The officials inspected key facilities in the school to identify potential risk factors and reinforce preventive measures to halt the spread of the disease.
Addressing the students, Prof. Abayomi emphasized the importance of personal and environmental hygiene, urging them to adopt proper hand-washing habits and report any symptoms of diphtheria promptly.
He who reassured parents that government is on top of the situation, discouraged them from withdrawing their children from school, as this could further complicate containment efforts.
” The vaccination campaign is targeting all students with parental consent, as well as school staff, to create a protective ring against the disease ” advising members of the public to be vigilant, watch for symptoms such as sore throat, difficulty breathing, and fever, and report any suspected cases to the nearest primary healthcare center “.
Speaking on potential side effects of the vaccine, Prof. Abayomi told students and parents that, “while mild to moderate reactions can occur, they are rare and manageable”.
” Anyone experiencing adverse effects should report to the school healthcare facility, where medical personnel are on standby to provide necessary care “. he assured
The Principal of the school, Mr. Zachariah Magaji, alongside the PTA Chairman and representatives from the school alumni, participated in the facility tour and vaccination exercise. Their presence underscored a collective commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the students. Abayomi said
The vaccination exercise continues with medical teams on hand to immunize as many students and staff as possible.
According to him, health officials have also ramped up awareness efforts within the school community to ensure students, parents, and teachers understand the symptoms, risks, and preventive measures for diphtheria.
The State Government pledged continued collaboration with the federal and state health agencies to monitor the situation and deploy additional resources where necessary. He revered.
The Commissioner reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and response mechanisms across all schools and communities in Lagos State.