Diphtheria:KNCDC Rallies Traditional Rulers To Sensitize Rural Communities

Diphtheria:KNCDC Rallies Traditional Rulers To Sensitize Rural Communities

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has engaged traditional rulers across the state to intensify community sensitization for acceptance of vaccines for Diphtheria and other preventable diseases.

The center’s mobilization efforts followed the recent outbreak of Diphtheria in communities in Rano Local Government Area,and the controversial cases of casualties recorded during the outbreak.

The Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, during a meeting in Kano with traditional leaders (District heads) under the Kano Emirate Council, therefore,urged the traditional institution to support efforts aimed at halting the spread of the diphtheria disease.

Adamu-Abbas, who highlighted the advantages of vaccines said the efforts are aimed at halting the spread of the disease through increased vaccine uptake and prompt reporting of suspected cases.

According to him, many of the diphtheria cases recorded in the state involve children whom 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 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 on vaccination and early presentation at health facilities.

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 KNCDC had earlier demanded the urgent supply of 9 million doses of vaccines to curtail the spread of the infectious disease.

Worried by the outbreak and the possible 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.