From Tunde Bishop, Sokoto
The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) otherwise known as
Doctors Without Borders
has launched an emergency measles vaccination campaign in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara state.
The initiative was launched in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA), MSF Field Communication Officer (Press), Abdulkareem Yakubu has said in a statement.
The statement further said the launch was necessary following an increase in the number of children suffering from the disease, claiming the lives of 24 children this year.
“Most of the children who died were under five years old and had not been vaccinated.
“The six-day campaign, which began today, 8 July, 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.” The Statement reads in part.
During the campaign, MSF said the teams will 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.” It stated.
It recalled that a previous vaccination campaign in June 2024 only reached 59% of children due to a shortage of vaccines and security issues in some areas, adding that “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.
“Children in Zurmi are facing a double crisis of disease and hunger,” said Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, MSF’s Head of Mission. “We are seeing a sharp rise in measles cases, along with high levels of malnutrition, which makes children even more vulnerable.”
The statement noted that a 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.
It further called 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.
