MSF, Borno Govt Vaccinate Hundreds of Thousands of Children Against Diphtheria in Maiduguri

The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Health, has completed a large-scale vaccination campaign targeting children against diphtheria in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), reaching hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries.
The campaign, aimed at children up to 14 years, was carried out in two phases. The first round, held from February 9 to 15, exceeded expectations by vaccinating about 490,000 children, surpassing the initial target of 387,000. A follow-up round conducted between April 9 and 15 targeted over 360,000 of those previously vaccinated to reinforce their immunity. However, limited vaccine supply affected the overall scale of the exercise.
Nigeria continues to battle one of its worst diphtheria outbreaks in recent history. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, more than 65,000 suspected cases and over 2,200 deaths have been recorded since May 2022, with the outbreak officially declared in 2023. Borno remains among the hardest-hit states, where MSF alone has treated over 7,400 suspected cases since 2023, including 4,200 within the past year.
Diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection spread through respiratory droplets or contact with infected wounds, can cause severe complications including breathing obstruction, organ damage, paralysis, and death—particularly among unvaccinated children.
MSF provided logistical and technical support for the vaccination drive, including cold chain management, transportation, funding for vaccination teams, and public awareness campaigns, while the state government supplied the vaccines. The collaboration recorded strong community participation across the targeted areas.
MSF Emergency Coordinator, Nao Muramoto, described the intervention as critical in boosting immunity among children in Maiduguri, noting that the city accounts for a significant number of diphtheria cases treated in MSF facilities.
The vaccination campaign also coincided with increased patient turnout at the diphtheria treatment unit in Maiduguri, an indication of improved disease awareness and referrals by community health workers.
Muramoto stressed the need for sustained routine immunisation, improved healthcare access in conflict-affected areas, and efforts to address vaccine hesitancy to prevent future outbreaks. He also called for increased vaccine availability to protect vulnerable populations.
Beyond vaccination efforts, MSF continues to support healthcare delivery in Borno State, including maternal and child health services, emergency obstetric care, and treatment for malnourished children across several facilities in Maiduguri.