In a renewed effort to halt the spread of diphtheria, the Kano State Government has launched a targeted immunisation campaign across five local government areas.
The intervention follows a formal request by the Kano State Government in August 2026 appealing to the Federal Government for additional diphtheria vaccines to facilitate mass immunization. That appeal, made by Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, Director-General of the Kano Centre for Disease Control, came after the State Assembly reported an outbreak in Rano and other areas that allegedly claimed the lives of more than 50 children, a mortality figure the state government disputed.
The new vaccination campaign spans 13 designated wards across Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso, and Ungoggo Local Government Areas. According to a statement issued on Monday by Rukayya Jafar Suleiman, the State Risk Communication and Community Engagement Officer for the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, the targeted wards include Gobirawa, Kofar Ruwa, Kwachiri, Rijiyar Lemo, Dorayi, Kabuga, Chiranchi, Naibawa, Fanshekara, Bachirawa, Gayawa, Rijiyar Zaki, and Ungogo.
Health authorities urged members of the public, particularly those whose vaccination history is uncertain or who have not received a booster in over a decade, to visit designated centres. The statement advised, “We call on residents, especially those whose immunisation status is unknown or who received their last dose more than 10 years ago, to make themselves and their families available for vaccination.”
The health agency urged parents to ensure their families participate to build broader community immunity. Suleiman encouraged residents to rely on official health channels for guidance, adding, “Yes, immunisation is safe, effective, and protects you from serious illness. Bring your family members and get vaccinated today. Together, we can prevent Diphtheria.”