The humanitarian medical organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders, has concluded its three-year emergency response to the diphtheria outbreak in Kano State after supporting the administration of more than 835,000 vaccine doses in partnership with the Kano State Ministry of Health.
The intervention, which began in early 2023, included treatment for over 14,700 children through MSF-run and supported treatment centres, as well as home-based care services. The organisation also strengthened disease surveillance, referral systems, data management and community engagement to support the response.
During two rounds of vaccination campaigns in 2026, 835,028 children were immunised against diphtheria. The second phase, conducted between June 20 and 24, vaccinated 486,948 children across 20 wards, following an earlier round that reached 348,080 children.
MSF Project Coordinator in Kano, Abdoul-Aziz Djibrilla, said the outbreak placed enormous pressure on families and health facilities, adding that while cases have declined due to vaccination efforts, low immunisation coverage, overcrowding, malnutrition and delayed healthcare seeking continue to pose risks.
According to the Kano State Ministry of Health, more than 31,900 suspected diphtheria cases and over 1,260 deaths, mostly among children, were recorded between March 2022 and March 22, 2026.
MSF urged health authorities and partners to sustain routine immunisation, strengthen disease surveillance and ensure timely access to quality treatment to prevent future outbreaks and protect children across the state.