By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

 A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has intensified efforts to curb the spread of diphtheria in Katsina State, bringing together traditional rulers, religious leaders and health professionals in Kankia Local Government Area for a stakeholders’ engagement aimed at strengthening community response to the disease.

The one-day sensitisation programme, held on Thursday at the Primary Health Care Centre in Kankia, focused on raising awareness about diphtheria and encouraging community leaders to take a more active role in preventing further infections.

Speaking during the engagement, the leader of the team, Mr Umar Kankia, said the initiative was designed to unite key stakeholders and define collective strategies for tackling the disease, which has become a growing public health concern in parts of the local government.

According to him, participants at the meeting included political office holders, traditional and village heads, Chief Imams, other religious leaders, clinical heads, nurses and frontline health workers.

Kankia explained that the coalition had stepped up awareness campaigns in Tafashiya community following reports that the area was among the communities most affected by the outbreak.

“Our goal is to ensure that community leaders understand their responsibilities and help educate residents on how to prevent the disease and seek treatment promptly,” he said.

The Village Head of Tafashiya, Alhaji Sani Muhammad, commended the coalition for bringing the awareness campaign to the community, describing the initiative as timely and necessary.

He pledged the support of traditional institutions in mobilising residents and promoting health messages aimed at reducing the spread of the disease.

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Muhammad also urged members of the community to cooperate fully with health workers and stakeholders involved in the campaign, stressing the importance of following medical advice and preventive guidelines.

One of the resource persons at the event, Malam Mani Iro, highlighted some of the major symptoms associated with diphtheria, including difficulty in swallowing and high fever.

He noted that Tafashiya had been identified as one of the worst-hit communities in Kankia Local Government Area, making sustained awareness and early detection critical to controlling the disease.

“The coalition visited Tafashiya community because it has been identified as one of the worst-hit areas by diphtheria in Kankia Local Government,” he said.

Iro advised residents to seek immediate medical attention whenever symptoms of the disease are noticed, warning that delays in treatment could increase health risks and facilitate further transmission.

“Once the signs and symptoms of the disease are noticed, affected persons should be taken to the nearest hospital immediately for proper medical attention and preventive measures,” he added.

The engagement forms part of ongoing community-based efforts to improve public awareness, strengthen disease surveillance and encourage early treatment as health authorities and stakeholders work to contain the spread of diphtheria in affected communities across Katsina State.