Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State has commenced an emergency vaccination exercise following the detection of poliovirus in a child in Challawa Ward.
The Vice Chairman of the council, Sulaiman Dauda Basarake, who led a stakeholders’ meeting on the outbreak, said the council would work with health officials to ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated.
The Head of the Primary Healthcare Department, Lawan Ahmad Getso, said the detected case had raised concerns over possible transmission to other children and communities.
He urged traditional, religious and community leaders to mobilise residents and support the vaccination exercise to prevent further spread of the virus.
The LGA Facilitator, Naziru Sani, said the presence of one infected child could indicate that other people might be carrying the virus without showing symptoms.
He also urged parents to accept vaccination for their children, stressing that full community participation was necessary to interrupt transmission.
A Cluster Consultant with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Mukhtar Ali, said the affected child had received routine vaccinations, including polio vaccines, more than once.
He explained that some children could carry the virus without displaying symptoms, making vaccination of all eligible children critical to stopping transmission.
The Health Councillor, Haruna Shera, commended health workers for their commitment, saying he personally witnessed their efforts during the vaccination exercise.
Basarake said the council chairman and councillors would personally participate in the exercise to ensure that no child was missed.
He disclosed that the council had previously ordered the closure of a school in Na’ibawa Ward after its head allegedly resisted vaccination of pupils.
The vice chairman also warned vaccination workers against falsifying records or wasting vaccines, urging them to discharge their responsibilities honestly.
He assured stakeholders that the council would consider requests made during the meeting and take necessary steps to support the exercise.
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