Residents of Wubara, a locality in the Jiwa ward of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are grappling with fear and uncertainty as a recent outbreak of chicken-pox has led to several fatalities.

Chicken-pox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, manifests as a rash with fluid-filled blisters and is highly contagious, especially among individuals who have not been previously exposed to the virus or vaccinated against it.

During a recent medical outreach in Wubara, the chairman of the council, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, represented by the Supervisory Council for Health, Faoye Tunji, expressed concern over the outbreak’s toll on the community. 

He lamented the loss of lives and emphasised the urgent need for a lasting solution to prevent further occurrences.

Dr. Dorothy Ihegazie, the Programme Officer for Disease Control at the Health Unit/Department of AMAC, assured the community of the council’s commitment to providing medical services. She urged residents to seek assistance promptly and assured them of the availability of necessary medications.

The Chief of Wubara, Alhaji Ibrahim Dallatu, commended the medical outreach program, acknowledging its role in addressing potential health threats within the community.

During the outreach, medical professionals examined over 1,000 community members and administered medications. 

The program also offered treatments for various ailments, including malaria, typhoid, child immunization, COVID-19 vaccination, poliomyelitis, monkey-pox, and chicken-pox.

The efforts of the medical team aim to alleviate the suffering caused by the outbreak and prevent further spread of the infection within the community.