By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
Kano State Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KNCDC), under the leadership of its Director-General, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, conducted an advocacy visit to Sheikh Khalifa Isyaka Rabiu University, Gadon Kaya, Kano State, on 4th February 2026, as part of efforts to enhance collaboration between the state public health agency and tertiary institutions in Kano State.
During the visit, the Director-General, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, emphasized the pivotal role of universities in safeguarding public health. He noted that academic institutions serve as hubs for knowledge, innovation, and community engagement, making them strategic partners in disease surveillance and infection prevention. Professor Abbas further highlighted that appointing a surveillance focal person and establishing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) clubs within the university would strengthen early detection, reporting, and response to public health threats.
In response, the Vice-Chancellor of Sheikh Khalifa Isyaka Rabiu University, Professor Abdulrashid Garba, expressed appreciation for KNCDC’s visit and welcomed the proposed initiatives. He affirmed the university’s commitment to supporting programs that promote the health and well-being of students, staff, and the wider community, and acknowledged the value of structured health platforms such as IPC clubs to foster awareness, responsibility, and proactive engagement in public health matters.
The visit also focused on requesting the university to designate a Surveillance Focal Person to serve as a liaison with KNCDC. This role is expected to facilitate timely information sharing, improve early detection of potential outbreaks, and strengthen coordinated response mechanisms. In addition, the possibility of establishing IPC Clubs was discussed as a means of promoting student participation in health promotion activities and building a culture of hygiene, safety, and disease prevention on campus.
According to Dayyabu Muhammad the public relations officer KNCDC the advocacy visit provided a platform for constructive dialogue and mutual understanding, laying the foundation for sustained collaboration in disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness, health education, and infection prevention practices. KNCDC reaffirmed its commitment to working with academic institutions and stakeholders to advance evidence-based strategies that safeguard the health of communities across Kano State.
