Diphtheria Outbreak: Kano Rallies Traditional Rulers as Outbreak Threatens More Children
The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has appealed to the traditional rulers of the state to boost vaccination and save children from diphtheria and other vaccine preventable diseases.
The move comes after a recent diphtheria outbreak in communities of Rano Local Government Area, where health authorities have expressed concern over reported casualties associated with the disease.
Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, the Director-General of KNCDC, held a meeting with the district heads under the Kano Emirate Council and encouraged them to assist in the efforts to increase vaccination coverage and timely reporting of suspected cases.
Abbas reported that many of the cases of diphtheria recorded in Kano were children who were not immunised as per the routine. Some families had also visited patent medicine vendors or traditional healers and others had come to health facilities late.
He appealed to traditional leaders to urge families to immunise their children and seek medical attention as soon as they show symptoms. He also cautioned traditional medicine practitioners and barbers against treating suspected diphtheria cases, emphasising the need to refer them to health facilities immediately.
The traditional institution agreed to mobilise village and ward leaders to assist the vaccination campaign.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health has sent 500,000 doses of the vaccine and a special task force to Kano and Katsina to bolster surveillance and response efforts to the outbreak.
