Kaduna blames vaccine rejection as diphtheria kills three

A health team led by the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Bello Jamo, has confirmed a diphtheria outbreak in the Tukur Tukur settlement of Zaria Local Government Area of the state.

The team, which included a World Health Organisation representative, visited the community after reports of child deaths.

Jamo confirmed that three children had died from the suspected outbreak, attributing the incident to non-compliance with diphtheria vaccination during a routine exercise conducted two months ago.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the visit on Sunday, he noted that the reported case of outbreak of the disease in the 13 wards of Zaria LGA was the first after the routine vaccination exercise conducted in June.

He said the settlement had the highest rejection rate of the vaccine, adding that, “Based on our record, Tukur Tukur settlement has been the highest in rejection rate of the vaccine during our previous routine exercise.

“So I met with the ward, religious and opinion leaders and urged them to scale up a sensitisation campaign on the need to embrace the vaccine.”

He said to contain the outbreak, the team vaccinated over 1,000 children in the area and ordered continued vaccination for the next week in neighbouring settlements.

The Health Secretary of the council, Abdullahi Sule, reported that one victim died at home, while two others died after they were rushed to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria.

The ward focal person, Fatima Abdullahi, assured Jamo that her team would remain in the community for a week to rid the settlement of the disease.

The spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Abdul-azeez Suleiman, appreciated the prompt response and assured the team of the community’s readiness to embark on sensitisation awareness on the importance of vaccination.