Measles Outbreak Hits Kaduna Community

Twenty children have been discovered to be suffering from measles in Ungwa Kanawa in Tankarau of Dutsen-Abba Ward of Zaria local government area of Kaduna State.

The discovery was made during a visit to the community as part of activities to commemorate the African Vaccination/World Immunisation Week themed, “Vaccination for all is Humanly Possible,” which commenced on April 24 and will last till Wednesday, April 30.

The visit to the community which was also to carry out immunisation was also meant to be an opportunity to monitor executive supervision of the ongoing polio campaign, and to observe and document impact of mobile outreaches in zero-dose wards/LGAs as part of an integrated primary healthcare system.

Speaking on the outbreak and efforts to address it, the director of Disease Control, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, Hamza Ibrahim Ikara, confirmed the outbreak saying the visit was part of the ongoing process to ensure proper and quality intervention for polio immunisation across the country.

He said that part of the efforts includes intensifying routine immunization, which is one of the key strategies for reducing maternal and infant mortality rates nationwide.

“As you have seen in the committee meeting, we have many children who have fallen victim to measles cases because they have either never received any immunisation or have missed the measles vaccination we conducted a few months ago.

“Despite outreach teams visiting them, many parents have not been bringing their children for immunisation. This situation stems largely from refusal and non-compliance related to immunisation.

“In this community, we have been making strong efforts to create awareness among committee members. They have shared reasons why they have not been taking their children for immunisation or accepting vaccinators when they come,” he said.

In response to the outbreak, he said he has directed the local government surveillance officer to strengthen surveillance efforts and ensure that they cover all the communities within the Ungwan Kanawa area to ensure that no child showing symptoms misses the immunisation.

“We have already ordered vaccines from the state to the local government for re-vaccination efforts within the communities. We have also conducted sensitisation activities with household heads, which is very important because even if women bring their children for immunisation, often, they cannot proceed without the approval of the men. Fortunately, we have secured their consent now, today (Saturday),” he said.

Earlier, UNICEF Chief of Field Office Kaduna, Dr Gerida Birukila, corroborated the outbreak of the measles in the community. She lamented the refusal of most parents to avail their children for vaccination and encouraged parents to always allow their children to take the vaccines to save lives.

One of the beneficiaries of the interventions, Saduatu Safiyanu, said she has six children but because her husband would not allow them to be vaccinated, they lost four of them but after much persuasion, her husband has allowed the surviving two to be vaccinated “who are alive and healthy.”

Meanwhile, one of the men in the village said, it is true that they refuse their children to be vaccinated because of the perception that it is for family planning and that it could affect their reproductive organs and weaken their organs, among other reasons.

The African Vaccination and World Immunisation Week in Kaduna is championed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), GAVII, KDPHC and UNICEF.