• As UNICEF, Kaduna Govt race to contain crisis
From Sola Ojo, Abuja
A serious measles outbreak has erupted in Ungwan Kanawa, Dosa Aba Ward of Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State, leaving two children dead while several others are in critical condition.
Already, the affected families are devastated while health officials scrambling to respond to the outbreak in good time.
The outbreak, traced to years of parental refusal to immunize children, has already claimed the lives of two children from a single family of nine, with several others critically ill.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Birukila, described the situation as alarming, emphasizing that many children suffering from measles had never been immunized.
“Three years ago, this community had a 100% refusal rate for vaccinations.
“Today, we are witnessing the tragic consequences,” Dr. Birukila said during an immunization campaign in the area on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
“We urgently need predictable vaccination supplies to prevent further loss of life.
“Despite nationwide shortages of measles vaccines, UNICEF, WHO, and the Kaduna State government are intensifying efforts to secure and deliver doses to affected areas”, she added.
Dr. Birukila called on parents, religious and traditional leaders, and all stakeholders to encourage full participation in immunization drives to save lives.
Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Hamza Ibrahim Ikara, confirmed that immediate steps have been taken to strengthen disease surveillance and launch emergency re-vaccination campaigns.
“Our surveillance teams are on the ground, and by 4 p.m. today, April 26, vaccination teams will begin visiting households to immunize all eligible children,” he announced.
Ikara also highlighted the critical role of community sensitization efforts, revealing that many mothers had previously been unable to immunize their children without the approval of male heads of households.
“Recent interventions, however, have successfully secured broader community consent”, he said.
Health officials warn that unless urgent action is taken, the outbreak could spread rapidly throughout the local government area, putting hundreds more children at riske especially as the state has a long history of vaccine hesitancy.
Photo: Some mothers and their children during vaccine campaign at Ungwan Kanawa community, Zaria, on Saturday, April 26