The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf has disclosed that no fewer than 17,000 children have been diagnosed with pneumonia in the state.

Yusuf, disclosed this during the commemoration of World Pneumonia Day and World Diabetes Day in Kano. The event was organised to raise awareness about the diseases and promote prevention, early detection and appropriate treatment.

The figures were contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Nabilusi Abubakar Kofar Na’isa, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Health.

Dr Yusuf said more than 300,000 children had been affected by pneumonia across Nigeria this year. He warned that the disease could be life threatening, particularly among young children.

He identified malnutrition as a major factor that increases the risk and severity of pneumonia. He stressed the need for early diagnosis and appropriate medical attention.

He said more than 17,000 children have been diagnosed with pneumonia in Kano State. He highlighted the scale of the disease in the state.

He explained that the government had trained healthcare workers on specialised approaches to managing childhood illnesses. He said this was to improve the quality of healthcare services available to children and reduce pneumonia related deaths.

He also disclosed that an estimated 7.5 per cent of residents in Kano are living with diabetes.