| If they’re still finding zero-dose children at the age of 4,5,6,7 or 11, it means we didn’t do our job well – Prof Tomori | Situation under control in Katsina – Health Agency | We have strengthened surveillance – Kano NCDC
BY PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA, Abuja; ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos; Longtong Yakubu, Kano; GODWIN ENNA, Katsina
The resurgence of diphtheria across Nigeria’s North-West has renewed concerns over declining immunisation coverage, with health experts calling for an end to vaccine boycotts and urging communities to embrace vaccination as the most effective protection against the deadly but preventable disease.
For a disease that can largely be prevented through routine childhood vaccination, the resurgence of diphtheria in Nigeria is raising concerns about the country’s ability to protect children from preventable illnesses.
Across parts of the North-West, particularly Kano and Katsina, children are once again bearing the burden of a disease health authorities say should not gain a foothold in communities with adequate vaccination coverage.
Medical experts said the recurring outbreaks are not simply the result of the circulation of a dangerous bacterium, but also reflect deeper weaknesses in routine immunisation, poor access to healthcare, vaccine hesitancy, insecurity, population displacement and the failure to consistently reach children who have missed their vaccines.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It mainly affects the nose and throat and spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing, direct contact with an infected person, or contact with contaminated clothing and personal items.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), symptoms may include fever, sore throat, cough and a runny nose. In severe cases, a thick grey or white membrane can develop around the tonsils or at the back of the throat, causing difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
The NCDC said vaccination remains the most effective defence against the disease. Nigeria’s childhood immunisation schedule provides three doses of the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, at six, 10 and 14 weeks of age.
The persistence of outbreaks, therefore, points to a fundamental problem: too many children are either not receiving the vaccines or failing to complete the recommended schedule.
A renowned virologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, said the continued existence of zero-dose children was evidence of the health system’s failure to reach vulnerable families.
“If they’re still finding zero-dose children at the age of 4, 5, 6, 7, or 11, it means we didn’t do our job well. So long as we have zero-dose children, it’s only a matter of time before the disease catches up with us,” he said.
Tomori noted that the problem went beyond vaccine availability, stressing that the health system and community leaders must also be able to convince families of the importance of immunisation.
He expressed particular concern about vaccine boycotts and misinformation in parts of Northern Nigeria, urging political, religious and community leaders to take greater responsibility for educating families.
According to him, health authorities must communicate in ways communities can understand rather than relying solely on technical messages.
“You can’t blame the people too much; it’s their knowledge level. We must go down to their level and show them that this directly affects their families,” he said.
Tomori urged leaders to be more proactive in addressing religious and cultural concerns surrounding vaccination instead of leaving health workers to tackle misinformation alone.
He said simply telling parents that vaccines are safe may not be enough, stressing the need to help families understand the consequences of diphtheria for an unprotected child and the importance of completing the vaccination schedule.
The concentration of diphtheria cases in the North-West is not a new development.
Surveillance data from the NCDC covering 2022 to March 2025 showed that Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa accounted for 96.3 per cent of suspected diphtheria cases reported nationally during the period.
