The Kano State Government has commenced a diphtheria vaccination exercise across five local government areas as part of measures to curb the spread of the disease.
The campaign is taking place in Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso and Ungoggo Local Government Areas.
The Kano State Centre for Disease Control says the exercise covers 13 wards within the five councils, including Gobirawa, Kofar Ruwa, Kwachiri, Rijiyar Lemo, Dorayi, Kabuga, Chiranchi, Naibawa, Fanshekara, Bachirawa, Gayawa, Rijiyar Zaki and Ungogo.
The State Risk Communication and Community Engagement Officer of the KNCDC, Rukayya Jafar Suleiman, urged residents to take advantage of the exercise, particularly those whose vaccination history is uncertain or who received their last dose more than ten years ago.
She said, “We call on residents, especially those whose immunisation status is unknown or who received their last dose more than ten years ago, to make themselves and their families available for vaccination.”
Suleiman also described the vaccine as safe and effective, urging parents to encourage their families to participate.
She added, “Immunisation is safe, effective, and protects you from serious illness. Bring your family members and get vaccinated today. Together, we can prevent diphtheria.”
The campaign follows an earlier appeal by the Kano State Government for additional diphtheria vaccines from the Federal Government to support wider vaccination across the state.
The appeal came after reports of a diphtheria outbreak in Rano and other parts of the state, with the Kano State House of Assembly raising concerns over more than 50 deaths among children.
However, the state government had rejected the reported figure.
Health authorities are urging residents to rely on information from official health agencies and make use of designated vaccination centres as the campaign continues.
