From Uthman Abubakar Maiduguri
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Borno State Ministry of Health have jointly vaccinated a total of 490,000 children under the age of 14 against diphtheria this year.
This figure comprised the 490,000 vaccinated in the first round of the campaign which took place between 9 and 15 February, 2026.
This is inclusive of the 350,000 children who have been targeted for the second round.
An MSF statement mailed to newsmen showed that the 490,000 vaccination achieved in February was 103,000 in excess of the 387,000 initially targeted; while the 350,000 achieved this April shows 10,000 less than the 360,000 targeted.
“Despite the high number reached, limited vaccine availability constrained the scale of response,” MSF noted in the statement.
MSF supported the Borno State Ministry of Health to run the vaccination campaign, providing comprehensive logistical support, including vaccine storage, transportation and remuneration for vaccination teams, health promotion and awareness activities and program supervision, while the Ministry of Health provided the vaccines used in the campaign.
MSF also supported the diphtheria treatment unit (DTU) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, which experienced a surge in suspected cases during the campaign.
ENDS
