Kano Enlists Emirs, District Heads in Diphtheria Vaccine Offensive
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), on Wednesday launched a palace-to-community vaccination campaign, placing the traditional institution at the centre of efforts to halt the spread of diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The initiative brings together district heads under the Kano Emirate Council to lead grassroots sensitisation in response to renewed concerns over infections recorded in Rano and neighbouring communities.
The mobilisation comes as Kano strengthens its public health response following recent outbreaks, with state authorities working alongside federal health officials to expand vaccination coverage and reinforce disease surveillance.
Addressing the district heads in Kano, the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Prof. Muhammad Adamu-Abbas, said community leaders remain the most effective bridge between public health authorities and families.
He stated that the next phase of the response would focus on increasing routine immunisation, early detection of symptoms and prompt referral of suspected patients to hospitals.
Prof. Adamu Abbas explained: “Vaccination saves lives. We need every community to understand that diphtheria is preventable and that treatment should begin at a health facility, not elsewhere”.
The KNCDC boss noted that a significant number of infected children had either missed routine immunisation or arrived at hospitals only after seeking help from chemists and traditional healers, reducing their chances of timely treatment.
He also urged district heads to engage local barbers and traditional medicine practitioners, warning them against handling suspected diphtheria cases or performing traditional procedures on affected children.
Speaking on behalf of the Kano Emirate Council, the Dankadai of Kano, Dr. Bashir Dankadai, pledged the full support of the traditional institution in driving the campaign across the emirate.
He explained that district heads would immediately activate village and ward leadership structures to ensure vaccine awareness messages reach households in both urban and rural communities.
Dankadai added that traditional healers and barbers would be formally sensitised and instructed to refer suspected cases directly to healthcare facilities instead of attempting treatment.