The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has engaged traditional rulers across the state’s emirates and the 44 local government areas to intensify community sensitisation and promote acceptance of diphtheria and other preventable disease vaccinations.
The centre’s mobilisation came in the wake of a recent diphtheria outbreak in communities in Rano and controversy over the reported casualties.
The Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, made the call during a meeting with traditional leaders (district heads) under the Kano Emirate Council in Kano.
Adamu-Abbas, who highlighted the benefits of vaccines, urged the traditional institution to support efforts aimed at halting the spread of diphtheria through increased vaccine uptake and prompt reporting of suspected cases.
According to him, many of the diphtheria cases recorded in the state involved children who had not received routine immunisation, sought treatment from chemists or traditional healers, or were brought late to health facilities.
He appealed to the traditional leaders to mobilise their communities to embrace vaccination and encourage residents to seek immediate medical attention whenever symptoms of illness are noticed.
The KNCDC boss also urged them to caution traditional medicine practitioners and barbers against attempting to treat diphtheria cases, stressing that suspected patients should be referred immediately to health facilities.
Responding, the Dankadai of Kano, Dr Bashir Dankadai, assured KNCDC of the traditional institution’s commitment to supporting the campaign against diphtheria.
Dankadai said district heads (Hakimai) would engage village heads (Dagatai), who would in turn mobilise ward heads (Masu Unguwan) to sensitise residents about vaccination and the importance of seeking early medical attention.
He added that traditional healers, particularly barbers (Wanzamai), would be warned against interfering with diphtheria treatment or carrying out any form of traditional surgical intervention on affected persons.
He reaffirmed the readiness of the traditional leaders to work closely with KNCDC to curb the spread of the disease across the state.
The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) had earlier demanded the urgent supply of nine million doses of vaccines to curtail the spread of the infectious disease.
Worried by the outbreak and the possibility of its spread to other communities, the Federal Ministry of Health deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines and a special task force to coordinate rapid surveillance and response efforts in Kano and Katsina states.