From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in collaboration with the Zamfara State Ministry of Health and Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA), has launched an emergency measles vaccination campaign in Zurmi LGA.
This follows an increase in the number of children suffering from the disease that has already claimed the lives of 24 children this year, with most of the children who died being under five years old and not vaccinated.
According to Mr Abdulkareem Yakubu, a Field Communication Officer (Press) for MSF, the six-day campaign, which began on Tuesday, July 8, is targeting children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years.
“The goal is to stop the spread of measles quickly and prevent more deaths. During the campaign, MSF teams will also check children for signs of malnutrition using a simple arm measurement (MUAC) and refer those who are undernourished to nearby health centres for treatment.
“As of early May, more than 1,600 suspected measles cases have been reported across all 11 wards in Zurmi. The number of cases is much higher than usual and has passed the level considered an epidemic. Many of the children who became seriously ill had other health problems like eye infections, malaria, and poor nutrition, which made their condition worse. The death rate is currently 1.2%.
“To reach as many children as possible, MSF is using both fixed vaccination sites and mobile teams that can travel to remote and hard-to-reach areas. The aim is to vaccinate at least 95% of children in the target age group to protect the wider community and stop the outbreak.
“A previous vaccination campaign in June 2024 only reached 59% of children due to a shortage of vaccines and security issues in some areas. The current outbreak is worst in communities like Zurmi town, Dauran Birnin Tsaba, Mayasa Kuturu, and Rukudawa, where regular vaccination services are limited and access to healthcare is difficult,” he stated.
Yakubu also quoted Abdullahi Mohammed Ali, MSF’s Head of Mission, as saying, “Children in Zurmi are facing a double crisis of disease and hunger. We are seeing a sharp rise in measles cases, along with high levels of malnutrition, which makes children even more vulnerable.”
Yakubu recalled that a nutrition screening carried out in June 2024 showed that more than one in four children in Zurmi were undernourished, and over 4% were severely malnourished, well above emergency levels set by the World Health Organisation.
He noted that the MSF-run treatment centre at Zurmi General Hospital continues to receive more and more children with serious nutrition-related complications.
“MSF is calling on all partners and health authorities to support this urgent response and help ensure that every child in Zurmi gets the care and protection they need,” he added.