Alleged Measles Outbreak In FCT Is False – FCTA

By: Badaru Yakasai

The FCT Administration has described as false and a fake news, the alleged rumours of 10 deaths as a result of measles outbreak in Damagaza community in the Federal Capital Territory.

Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCTA, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, made this statement while reacting to a recent news publication in some news media that measles killed 10 in Abuja, Wednesday.

The Mandate Secretary said FCT surveillance system is sensitive and active to prevent, detect or control outbreaks.

Fasawe urged the public to disregard the publications as they are fake news; pointing out that the investigating team that visited Damagaza Community, were shocked to discover that the Chief of Damagaza, the Women leader, and the officials of Primary Healthcare Center in the community were not even aware of such a case.

Fasawe explained that measles is a vaccine preventable disease, and a diagnosis of measles can only be made by a professional after a laboratory confirmation.

While Fasawe appealed to news media platforms to always verify their reports from relevant Authorities, she warned NGOs and Community based organisations to desist from dishing out misinformation capable of causing panic in the Territory.

Her words: “We reassure all residents that the FCT surveillance system is sensitive and active to prevent, detect or control outbreaks .We appeal to all news agencies to investigate every report thoroughly and substantiate reports through the right authorities before publishing.”

“We also send a strong message to all NGOs and Community-based organizations working in FCT to desist from setting up parallel surveillance structures in the communities and to desist from raising false alarm, thereby, causing panic in the communities for their organizational gains”, she added.

According to her, “In response to this news report, a multi sectoral team comprising of the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary HealthCare Board, the Director of Public Health, the State Epidemiologist, the State DSNO, Director PHC-PHCB, the AMAC Director PHC and other members of the Municipal Area Council Team and other high level officials went to Damagaza community to investigate and carry out due diligence”.

“The team engaged with the community Head, the Mai Anguwa, the Women Leader, the Community volunteer and other significant key informants in the community”, Fasawe said.

The Mandate Secretary reiterated that “the community head emphatically stated that he was unaware of these rumoured deaths. The health investigating team was unable to substantiate the rumours too. The names of the (alleged dead) children, their parents, and their addresses could not be confirmed. Many of the names listed were not identifiable.”