Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State has launched an emergency vaccination exercise after poliovirus was detected in a child in Challawa Ward.
The exercise is aimed at vaccinating eligible children and preventing further transmission of the virus across communities in the local government area.
Kumbotso council Vice Chairman, Sulaiman Dauda Basarake, led a stakeholders’ meeting on the outbreak and said the council would work with health officials to ensure that no eligible child was left out.
The Head of the Primary Healthcare Department, Lawan Ahmad Getso, said the detected case had raised concerns about possible transmission to other children and communities. He called on traditional, religious and community leaders to mobilise residents and encourage participation in the vaccination exercise.
Naziru Sani, the LGA Facilitator, said the detection of one infected child could indicate that other people were carrying the virus without showing symptoms. He urged parents to allow their children to receive the vaccines, stressing that broad community participation would be necessary to interrupt transmission.
A World Health Organisation Cluster Consultant, Dr Mukhtar Ali, said the affected child had previously received routine vaccinations, including polio vaccines, more than once. He explained that vaccination remained important because some people infected with poliovirus may not develop visible symptoms while still contributing to transmission.
Response Commended
The Health Councillor, Haruna Shera, commended health workers involved in the response and said he had personally observed their efforts during the vaccination exercise.
Basarake said the council chairman and councillors would also participate in the exercise to help 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 carry out their duties responsibly.
