Bauchi Strengthens Global Health Partnerships, Achieves 95% Measles-Rubella Vaccination Coverage

The Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board says the state has deepened collaboration with international health organisations to tackle diphtheria, malnutrition and other preventable diseases, recording major improvements in vaccination coverage and disease control.
The Board’s Chairman, Dr Rilwan Muhammad, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Bauchi on recent public health interventions and outcomes recorded by the state government.
According to him, Bauchi has received significant technical and medical support from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) following a surge in diphtheria cases across several communities. He explained that MSF initially set up a Diphtheria Treatment Centre (DTC) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, but rising admissions and limited space necessitated its relocation to the Bauchi Specialist Hospital.
Dr Muhammad said the state government provided land within the Specialist Hospital, enabling MSF to establish a 40-bed DTC, which has since been expanded to 50 beds due to increasing demand.
He noted that the recently concluded diphtheria vaccination exercise in selected wards of Bauchi Local Government Area led to a noticeable decline in cases in previously identified hotspots. The improvement, he said, followed the first and second rounds of vaccination conducted in December 2025 and January 2026.
“Although cases are still being reported in areas yet to be covered, plans are underway for a third round of vaccination, alongside an expansion to additional communities,” he added.
On malnutrition, the chairman expressed concern over the high rate of child stunting in the state, prompting the engagement of MSF for specialised intervention. He revealed that the organisation has established a 350-bed malnutrition treatment centre in Ganjuwa Local Government Area, offering free medical care, therapeutic feeding and support services to affected children and their caregivers.
“At peak periods, the centre becomes overstretched as children are also brought in from neighbouring states to access treatment,” he said.
Highlighting recent public health milestones, Dr Muhammad announced that Bauchi achieved 95 per cent coverage during the measles-rubella vaccination campaign conducted in October 2025. He attributed the success to early community sensitisation, effective planning and sustained engagement with key stakeholders.
He commended MSF for its continued support of diphtheria vaccination campaigns and acknowledged the contributions of UNICEF and Health Africa. He also disclosed that Bauchi plans to introduce the malaria vaccine later in the year, following successful pilot programmes in Kebbi and Bayelsa states.
Dr Muhammad further praised the media for its role in promoting public awareness on vaccination, disease prevention and the importance of early treatment of childhood illnesses.
Meanwhile, MSF has repeatedly raised concerns since 2022 over the worsening malnutrition crisis in northern Nigeria. In a related development, the United Nations World Food Programme recently warned that thousands of people in Nigeria’s conflict-affected North-East could face acute food shortages for the first time in almost a decade, projecting that more than 13 million children may suffer from malnutrition in 2026.