By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
The Gombe State Government has commenced an emergency vaccination exercise following a diphtheria outbreak that has recorded about 332 cases across four local government areas of the state
The affected local government areas are Akko, Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye
The development was contained in a directive issued by the Gombe State Ministry of Education to principals of schools across the state, directing them to cooperate with health officials during the vaccination exercise
The first phase of the immunisation programme is scheduled to run from Sunday, September 20, to Thursday, September 24, 2026, while subsequent doses will be administered at specified intervals
According to the ministry, the second dose will be administered 14 days after the first, while the final dose will follow seven days later
In a statement signed by the Director, Schools Services, Gombe State Ministry of Education, the ministry directed principals to inform students, parents, Parent-Teacher Associations, PTAs, and School-Based Management Committees, SBMCs, about the exercise
School authorities were also instructed to grant authorised health and immunisation personnel access to students for the administration of vaccines
The ministry urged school administrators and other stakeholders to give the exercise the necessary cooperation, stressing the importance of preventive measures in containing the outbreak
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae It primarily affects the upper respiratory tract, although it can also affect the skin.
The infection can spread through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through close contact with an infected person
Common symptoms include sore throat, fever and cough, while severe cases can lead to serious complications if not promptly treated
The outbreak has placed schools and communities in the affected local government areas at the centre of the state’s containment efforts, with authorities relying on vaccination and public awareness to prevent further transmission
The Ministry of Education further advised principals seeking additional information or clarification about the exercise to contact the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, in the state