No fewer than 17,000 children have been diagnosed with pneumonia in Kano State, with malnutrition increasing the risk and severity of the potentially life-threatening infection, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, has disclosed.

Yusuf also revealed that more than 300,000 children had been affected by pneumonia across Nigeria this year, raising concerns about the burden of the disease among children.

The commissioner disclosed this during the joint commemoration of World Pneumonia Day and World Diabetes Day in Kano.

The figures were contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa, a copy of which was made available in Kano on Friday.

“More than 17,000 children have been diagnosed with pneumonia in Kano State,” the commissioner was quoted as saying.

He warned that pneumonia could be life-threatening, particularly among young children, noting that malnutrition increased the risk of contracting the infection and could worsen its severity.

The commissioner said the state government had trained healthcare workers on specialised approaches to managing childhood illnesses to improve the quality of care provided to children.

The event was organised to raise awareness about childhood pneumonia, promote prevention, early detection and appropriate treatment, and strengthen efforts to reduce pneumonia-related deaths among children.

Speaking on diabetes, Yusuf described the disease as a serious health condition requiring proper management to prevent complications.

He said more than 500 million people worldwide were living with diabetes, while an estimated 7.5 per cent of Kano State residents were affected by the disease.

“More than 500 million people worldwide are living with diabetes, while an estimated 7.5 per cent of Kano State residents are also affected by the disease,” Yusuf said.

He added that the state had intensified efforts to support people living with diabetes through improved healthcare services and the provision of medical equipment.

Yusuf further disclosed that more than 1,000 health facilities across the state had benefited from the distribution of medical equipment to strengthen diabetes screening and management.

He assured residents that the ministry would continue to intensify public awareness campaigns on the prevention, early detection and proper management of both diseases. (Saturday PUNCH)