Maiduguri Diphtheria Vaccination Campaign Completed

Médecins Sans Frontières, in collaboration with the Nigeria — Borno State Ministry of Health, has completed a large-scale diphtheria vaccination campaign in Nigeria — Maiduguri, Nigeria. The campaign targeted children under 14 years old, reaching approximately 490,000 children in the first round (February 9-15, 2026) and 360,000 in the second round (April 9-15, 2026). This initiative addresses a prolonged diphtheria crisis in Nigeria, with the United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 65,759 suspected cases and 2,229 deaths as of March 22, 2026. Nigeria — Borno State is one of the hardest-hit areas, where Médecins Sans Frontières has treated over 7,400 suspected cases since 2023. Despite the success, limited vaccine availability constrained the full scope of the response. The campaign also led to increased case detection at the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, reflecting improved community awareness. Médecins Sans Frontières also supports diphtheria response efforts in Bauchi, Kano, and Sokoto states.