Nigeria Faces Unprecedented Diphtheria Outbreak, Says MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has stated that Nigeria is experiencing an unprecedented diphtheria outbreak, insisting that this is a crisis that requires immediate attention because approximately 17,000 suspected cases have been reported, with nearly 600 deaths, and there is no sign of the situation abating.

While MSF described the situation as critical, it observed that the seriousness of the problem becomes clear when looking at vaccination coverage.

According to a statement issued by the organisation on Tuesday, approximately 70% of patients treated at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) institutions in Kano state alone were either not completely vaccinated or were not vaccinated at all.

According to the statement, this highlights the alarmingly low vaccination rates, especially in the northwest, where coverage ranges from 6% in Sokoto to 10% in Zamfara and 18% in Katsina.

In the North-East, the situation is equally concerning, with only 15% of diphtheria patients treated at the MSF facility in Gwange Paediatric Hospital in Maiduguri being fully vaccinated. As a point of reference, the national average is 36%.

The statement revealed that to combat this outbreak, a vaccination campaign has been launched through a joint effort by the authorities, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and UNICEF. This campaign will be conducted in three phases across 14 states: Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Lagos, Nasarawa, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara.

MSF has been actively responding to the diphtheria outbreak since early 2023. In Kano, we’re supporting two diphtheria treatment centers with a total capacity of 146 beds. Our medical teams are implementing a decentralised strategy in collaboration with local authorities, extending support to various hospitals and health facilities across different local government areas. “Simultaneously, we’re conducting health promotion activities to raise awareness among the population,” the statement read.

It stated that: “The outbreak is not confined to Kano. In Maiduguri, Borno state, we’ve expanded our efforts by establishing a 20-bed diphtheria treatment clinic at the pediatric hospital in Gwange and have already treated 448 patients. Similarly, in Bauchi state, a 20-bed diphtheria treatment centre was established at Ganjuwa Hospital, where 173 patients have received treatment.

“It’s crucial to emphasise that MSF is working in tandem with the Ministry of Health and other international organisations to push for widespread vaccination campaigns across the affected states.

“The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. Your coverage and dissemination of accurate information about the outbreak and vaccination campaigns are pivotal in mobilising support and resources to curb this crisis.”