Mass deaths: Kano State govt blames hypertension, diabetes, meningitis, acute malaria

Kano State government on Sunday acknowledged recent deaths in Kano, attributing them to hypertension, diabetes, meningitis and acute malaria. Already, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has directed the state Ministry of Health to conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the deaths.

Reports from the state Ministry of Health have shown that most of the deaths were caused by complications arising from hypertension, diabetes, meningitis and acute malaria.

According to a statement signed and issued by Comrade Muhammed Garba on Sunday, a copy made available to pressmen, said although investigation into the cause of the deaths was still ongoing, preliminary reports from the state Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths were not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement, however, disclosed that Governor Ganduje from the outset, demonstrated the zeal and political will to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

It said, “Governor Ganduje’s administration has been commended from within and outside the state over the proactive measures it took towards curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This explains why Kano, apart from being the most populated state, did not record a case of the pandemic until lately. Though we agree that the situation on hand currently is serious, we are not resting on our oars in taking appropriate measures to ensure that the good people of Kano state, and indeed, residents in the state protect themselves from the novel COVID-19 pandemic.”

He further noted that part of measures taken by the state government to stop the spread of the virus include the ongoing lockdown, closing of boarders, aggressive campaign for social distancing, washing and sanitising of hands, as well as strict adherence to and practice of the principles of personal hygiene.

He added that the government through the Kano COVID-19 Fund-Raising Committee, has been making palliatives available to the most vulnerable and the needy in the society.

Garba said, “More so, the state government has three modern isolation centres where those tested positive to COVID-19 are being cared for. We are also hopeful of getting additional two isolation centres soonest.”

The government has also hired a hotel where suspected cases are accommodated.