BY Moh Bello Habib,Zaria
A health team comprising of the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board and World Health Organization representative has visited Tukur tukur settlement in Zaria local government area to assess the level of suspected diphtheria outbreak in the area.
Leading the team, Dr. Bello Yusuf Jamo, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna state primary health care Board confirmed the death of three children as a result of the suspected case.
Speaking to our correspondant, the Executive Secretary said its the first reported case of outbreak of the disease in the 13 wards of Zaria local government after the routine vaccination exercise conducted last two months.
Dr. Jamo attributed the incident to non compliance to diphtheria vaccine by the settlement during the exercise.
"Base 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 leaders, religious and opinion leaders and urged them to scale up sensitization campaign on the need to embrace the vaccine." He said.
Dr. Jamo who was accompanied by local, zonal and ward health team directed for an instant vaccination of all children within the area of the reported case, where over 1,000 were vaccinated.
He ordered for the continuation of the vaccination for the next one week within and the neighbouring settlement as measure to curtail wide spread.
Earlier, Abdullahi Sule, Health Secretary of the local council has said one of the victim died at home while the remaining two died after they were rushed to ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria.
Fatima Usman Abdullahi, ward focal person Tukur Tukur ward said her team will remain in the community for the next one week to rid the settlement from the disease.
Abdul-azeez Suleiman an elder of the Tukur tukur community, appreciated the team for prompt response within 24 hours after he raised the alarm.
Suleiman who is also the Spokesperson of Northern Elders Forum assured the community's readiness to embark on rigorous sensitization awareness of the community on the importance of the vaccine.
