A suspected measles outbreak has claimed the lives of 10 children in Damangaza community, Lokogoma District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, community leaders reported on Friday.
James Budebo, head of the Damangaza community, revealed this information during a one-day outreach programme organized by PHC Damangaza and the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC).
Mr. Budebo highlighting challenges to vaccine acceptance within the community, stated, “Vaccination is important in preventing measles and its complications, hence the need for widespread immunization to protect the community.”
Chika Offor, CEO of VNDC, emphasized the importance of the outreach programme in addressing the health crisis.
“We are committed to supporting community dialogue on vaccination and public health measures,” Ms. Offor said.
Longtang Shawen, a health worker at PHC Damangaza, pointed out that the outbreak has exacerbated existing challenges with limited healthcare access in the community.
“Education is important in empowering the community about vaccine-preventable diseases, sanitation and hygiene,” she noted.
Bello Musa, head of Damangaza Hausawa, confirmed that the Public Health Department, FCT, had been notified of the situation two weeks prior. In response, Teresa Nwachukwu, FCT Epidemiologist, stated she would investigate the current situation.
The outbreak in Damangaza aligns with broader trends across Nigeria. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), from January to December 2023, there were 19,470 suspected measles cases nationwide. Borno (7,635), Yobe (1,325), Ogun (611), and Zamfara (601) were major contributors, with Lagos reporting 563 cases.
Of these suspected cases, 11,433 (58.72%) were confirmed, with the age group 9-59 months accounting for 64% of all confirmed cases. Alarmingly, 73% of the confirmed cases were individuals who had not received any measles vaccine.
By the end of 2023, measles outbreaks were reported in 184 Local Government Areas across 35 states, with only FCT and Osun States not reporting any confirmed outbreaks at that time.
The situation in Damangaza and the broader national context underscore the critical need for enhanced vaccination campaigns and robust public health interventions to curb the spread of measles across Nigeria.
(NAN)
