The Vulnerable People Support and Development Initiative (V-PeSDI) has called on the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) to strengthen interventions aimed at curbing disease outbreaks across the state.
The appeal was made during an advocacy visit to the Director General of KNCDC, Assoc. Prof. Muhammad Abbas, in Kano.
The visit followed reports of recent disease outbreaks in some parts of the country and an advisory issued to Kano State by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Speaking during the visit, the Coordinator of V-PeSDI, Mrs. Hannatu Suleiman Abba, said the organization’s core mandate is to engage relevant stakeholders whenever issues affecting vulnerable populations arise.
She emphasized that vulnerable groups remain the most at risk during disease outbreaks due to socioeconomic and environmental factors beyond their control.
Mrs. Abba commended the Kano State Government for establishing the KNCDC, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening the state’s public health response system.
She also urged for closer collaboration between the KNCDC and local NGOs to ensure effective communication and community-based disease surveillance at the grassroots
Responding , Assoc. Prof. Muhammad Abbas lauded Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration for transforming the health sector through timely interventions and improved health governance.
He noted that the state’s swift response to vaccination and routine immunization programmes has helped reduce the spread of infectious diseases in Kano.
Assoc. Prof. Abbas also disclosed that the state had already taken proactive steps to prevent potential outbreaks of diseases such as Lassa fever and meningitis, even before cases were recorded in other parts of the country.
He commended V-PeSDI for its timely advocacy and pledged to work closely with the organization to intensify public awareness, community sensitization, and engagement efforts across the state.
Rel/Khadijah Aliyu
