The Kano State Government has commenced a diphtheria immunisation campaign across five local government areas as part of efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.
The campaign is being conducted in Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso and Ungoggo Local Government Areas, according to a statement issued by Rukayya Jafar Suleiman, Risk Communication and Community Engagement Officer of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control.
The statement, made available to PUNCH Online on Monday, said the exercise would cover 13 selected wards across the five local government areas.
The affected wards include Gobirawa, Kofar Ruwa, Kwachiri, Rijiyar Lemo, Dorayi, Kabuga, Chiranchi, Naibawa, Fanshekara, Bachirawa, Gayawa, Rijiyar Zaki and Ungogo.
The state health authorities urged residents, particularly those whose vaccination status is unknown or who received their last diphtheria vaccine dose more than 10 years ago, to visit designated vaccination centres.
“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 statement said.
The Kano State Centre for Disease Control said diphtheria vaccination was safe and effective, stressing that immunisation remained an important measure for protecting individuals and communities from the disease.
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It also called on parents and other residents to encourage their family members to participate in the exercise, noting that increased community participation would support efforts to prevent transmission.
The health authorities further advised residents to obtain information about diphtheria and the vaccination exercise from credible health officials and designated centres.
“Yes, immunisation is safe, effective, and protects you from serious illness. Bring your family members and get vaccinated today. Together, we can prevent Diphtheria,” the statement added.
The latest campaign follows an appeal by the Kano State Government in August 2026 for additional diphtheria vaccines from the Federal Government to support a mass vaccination exercise across the state.
The Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, made the request while addressing journalists after the Kano State House of Assembly raised concerns over a reported diphtheria outbreak in Rano and other local government areas.
The reported outbreak had been linked to the deaths of more than 50 children, although the Kano State Government subsequently disputed the reported death toll.
The latest immunisation campaign is therefore part of renewed efforts by the state authorities to strengthen vaccination coverage and limit the spread of diphtheria in affected communities.