The Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) has turned to traditional institutions to drive community acceptance of vaccination and curb the spread of diphtheria following a recent outbreak in Rano Local Government Area.
The move reflects growing concern that low immunisation coverage, delayed presentation at health facilities and reliance on informal treatment could undermine efforts to contain the infectious disease and expose more communities to transmission.
Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, director-general of KNCDC, made the appeal during a meeting with district heads under the Kano Emirate Council in Kano, where he urged traditional leaders to use their networks to promote vaccination and ensure early reporting of suspected cases.
Adamu-Abbas said increased vaccine uptake remained critical to preventing further transmission, particularly among children who are more vulnerable to the consequences of inadequate routine immunisation.
He said many of the diphtheria cases recorded in the state involved children who had either missed routine vaccinations, received treatment from patent medicine vendors or traditional healers, or arrived at health facilities after the disease had progressed.
