The Abia State Government has issued an urgent health advisory due to a diphtheria outbreak in neighbouring Imo State, urging citizens to take preventive measures including vaccination and strict hygiene practices

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Abia Diphtheria advisory has been urgently issued by the Abia State Government through its Ministry of Health, prompted by an outbreak of diphtheria in the neighbouring Imo State.

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This critical health update was disclosed on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a briefing to newsmen on the outcome of the Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu emphasised the immediate concern, stating, “Because Imo State is our neighbour, Imo is contagious to Abia State.

There is need for Abians to take preventive measures to ensure that, even if the disease spreads to the state, it will not cause much damage. Like they say, prevention is better than cure.”

He further elaborated on the recommended preventive measures: “These preventive measures will entail: number one, vaccination for children and vaccination for adults who are not sure of their health status or diphtheria status.

Number two will be that parents must be very vigilant during this period to ensure that any child who shows any symptom or onset of the disease is taken to the hospital immediately.”

Kanu stressed the importance of good hygiene practices, advising frequent handwashing with soap and water, especially after coughing, sneezing, or handling potentially contaminated materials.

He also urged citizens to cover their mouths and noses when coughing and to avoid close contact with sick individuals, highlighting the need for strong community vigilance.

“Citizens are advised to report any suspected cases of diphtheria to local health authorities within their vicinity or, better said, to the State Ministry of Health.

Community leaders, religious leaders, teachers, and school authorities, as well as royal fathers, should help to disseminate this important information,” he added.

Regarding travel precautions, Kanu advised, “If you must travel to or from an affected area, please ensure that your vaccination status is up to date.”

In a positive development, he also announced that the Federal Ministry of Health has declared Abia State free of river blindness after 30 years of mass drug administration to control the disease.

“With this declaration, Abia State has left the list of states where the disease was endemic for years,” he noted

In other news, the commissioner informed the public that the state government, through the State Ministry of Transport, has established an enforcement team to tackle the prevalent issue of “one-way driving” or driving against traffic.

Kanu explained, “The government has taken time to observe how this has become a menace in our cities, particularly in Umuahia and Aba.

The government has decided to stop this scourge. Driving against traffic is causing a lot of accidents across the state, and the time has come for culprits to be apprehended and dealt with.”

He warned that enforcement teams have already begun operations at strategic locations in Aba and Umuahia, and offenders will face stringent penalties, including heavy fines and prosecution.

Vehicles of those unable to pay fines will be impounded and potentially auctioned if not retrieved.

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“They are going to be very stringent so that people will begin to learn how to conduct themselves, drive safely in our cities, and stop endangering the lives of other road users,” he concluded.