The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board led by Executive Secretary Dr. Bello Jamo, has confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria in the Tukur Tukur settlement of Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The outbreak has claimed the lives of three children.
According to The PUNCH, the health team, which included a representative from the World Health Organisation visited the community following reports of multiple child deaths. Dr. Jamo attributed the outbreak to low vaccination uptake in the area during a routine immunisation exercise conducted in June.
“Based on our records, Tukur Tukur settlement has had the highest rejection rate of the diphtheria vaccine during our previous routine exercise,” said Dr. Jamo.
“I have met with ward leaders, religious figures, and other community influencers to encourage a more robust sensitisation campaign on the necessity of embracing vaccination.”
In response to the outbreak, the health team immediately vaccinated over 1,000 children in the affected area. Dr. Jamo further instructed that vaccination efforts continue in the coming week, extending to neighbouring settlements.
He called on local leaders and health officials to intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of vaccination to prevent further spread of the disease.
Abdullahi Sule, the Health Secretary for the local council, provided additional details, noting that one child died at home while two others succumbed after being taken to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Shika, Zaria.
Fatima Abdullahi, the ward focal person, assured the community that her team would remain in the settlement for at least a week to ensure effective containment of the disease.
Local community leaders, including Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, a spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, expressed gratitude for the swift response.
“We appreciate the prompt action taken by the health authorities,” Suleiman said. “The community is now fully committed to a rigorous sensitisation campaign to highlight the importance of vaccination.”
The health authorities are urging residents to cooperate fully with the ongoing vaccination drive to prevent further fatalities and ensure the outbreak is swiftly contained.
