The Katsina State Government has stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of diphtheria and tackle malnutrition with a renewed call for residents to adopt healthy nutrition practices and ensure children receive routine vaccinations.
The campaign, being implemented in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF through the Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency KSPHCDA was unveiled on Tuesday during a media dialogue in Katsina.
The engagement which brought together journalists and health stakeholders, focused on strengthening public understanding of proper nutrition and increasing awareness of measures required to prevent and control diphtheria in communities across the state.
The Acting Executive Secretary of KSPHCDA, Dr Shema’u Abba said the initiative was aimed at using the media to reach a wider population with accurate information on nutrition and disease prevention.
Dr Shema’u represented at the event by the State Health Educator, Dr Mukhtar Mahmud stressed that adequate and balanced nutrition remained fundamental to the health and development of the population, particularly women and children.
She noted that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life covering pregnancy through the child’s second birthday, represented a critical period for laying the foundation for healthy physical and cognitive development.
According to her, inadequate nutrition during this period could have lasting consequences on children, making it necessary for parents, caregivers and communities to pay greater attention to appropriate feeding practices.
Abba also identified insecurity in some parts of the state as one of the factors contributing to increased vulnerability to malnutrition, particularly among populations affected by displacement and limited access to essential services.
She said the media dialogue was therefore designed to strengthen public awareness of practical nutrition measures and healthy lifestyles capable of improving maternal and child health outcomes.
The Assistant Executive Secretary of KSPHCDA Dr Lawal Aminu Danja called on parents and caregivers to ensure that their children received all routine vaccines at the recommended times, stressing that immunisation remained a key measure for preventing vaccine preventable diseases.
Aminu Danja explained that diphtheria was an acute bacterial infection that primarily affects the respiratory system and could present with symptoms including sore throat, fever, swelling of the neck and difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
He urged residents who noticed symptoms associated with diphtheria to seek medical attention without delay, rather than resorting to self medication or waiting for the condition to worsen.
The health official further appealed to journalists to make health information a regular part of their reporting particularly by educating communities on routine immunisation, proper nutrition and other preventive healthcare practices.
He said effective media engagement would help counter misinformation and ensure that critical health messages reached families and vulnerable communities.
The dialogue provided an opportunity for health officials, journalists and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on public health communication with particular emphasis on improving nutrition behaviours and raising awareness about diphtheria prevention and control across Katsina
