Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State has commenced an emergency vaccination exercise following the detection of poliovirus in a child in Challawa Ward.
The Vice Chairman of the council, Sulaiman Dauda Basarake, announced the exercise after leading a stakeholders’ meeting on the outbreak.
Basarake said the council would work with health officials to ensure that all eligible children were vaccinated and protected against further spread of the virus.
Health officials warn of possible spread
The Head of the Primary Healthcare Department, Lawan Ahmad Getso, said the confirmed case had raised concerns about possible transmission to other children and communities.
He urged traditional, religious and community leaders to mobilise residents and support the vaccination campaign.
The LGA Facilitator, Naziru Sani, also warned that the detection of one infected child could indicate that other people were carrying the virus without showing symptoms.
He called on parents to allow their children to receive the vaccine, stressing that widespread community participation was necessary to interrupt transmission.
A Cluster Consultant with the World Health Organisation, Dr Mukhtar Ali, said the affected child had received routine vaccinations, including polio vaccines, on more than one occasion.
According to Ali, some children infected with poliovirus may not show symptoms, making vaccination of all eligible children important in preventing further transmission.
Council warns against vaccine misuse
The Health Councillor, Haruna Shera, commended health workers for their efforts and said he had personally witnessed their commitment during the vaccination exercise.
Basarake said the council chairman and councillors would also participate in the exercise to help ensure that no eligible 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 the vaccination of pupils.
The vice chairman also warned vaccination workers against falsifying records or wasting vaccines.
He urged the workers to carry out their duties responsibly and assured stakeholders that the council would consider requests made during the meeting and take necessary measures to support the exercise.
The council said the emergency vaccination campaign was aimed at reaching eligible children across the affected communities and preventing further spread of poliovirus.