The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has urged traditional rulers to intensify mobilisation for vaccination against diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, made the call at a meeting with district heads under the Kano Emirate Council.
Adamu-Abbas said increased vaccine uptake and prompt reporting of suspected cases were essential to containing the outbreak.
He said many diphtheria cases involved children who had not received routine immunisation or were taken late to health facilities after treatment attempts by chemists and traditional healers.
“Traditional rulers should mobilise their communities to embrace vaccination and ensure residents seek immediate medical attention whenever symptoms are noticed,” he said.
He also urged traditional medicine practitioners and barbers to refrain from treating suspected diphtheria cases and refer patients immediately to health facilities.
Responding, the Dankadai of Kano, Dr Bashir Dankadai, pledged the traditional institution’s support for the campaign.
He said district heads would mobilise village and ward heads to sensitise residents on vaccination and early presentation at health facilities.
Dankadai also said traditional healers and barbers would be cautioned against interfering with diphtheria treatment.
The KNCDC had earlier requested nine million doses of vaccines to contain the spread of the disease.
Following the outbreak, the Federal Ministry of Health deployed 500,000 vaccine doses and a special task force to strengthen surveillance and response efforts in Kano and Katsina.
