By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi
Abuja, 21 February 2025 - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has partnered with the Sokoto state Ministry of Health to launch a vaccination campaign aimed at protecting children against life-threatening diseases such as measles and diphtheria.
The campaign, which targets children under five years old, utilizes a measles vaccine and the Penta-5 vaccine, providing protection against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, whooping cough, and haemophilus influenzae type b. Additionally, MSF is conducting catch-up vaccines for children who may have missed their recommended doses of vaccines for polio, rotavirus, and tuberculosis, among others.
"We are committed to collaborating with the government to ensure every child is vaccinated against these deadly diseases," says Dr. Ahmad Bilal, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria.
Measles has become endemic in many parts of Northern Nigeria, causing public health consequences. "This exercise is very important because measles is extremely contagious and especially dangerous for young children, particularly those suffering from malnutrition or other medical issues," says Dr. Bilal.
In 2024, MSF teams conducted a multi-antigen vaccination campaign in Gummi, Zamfara state, reaching 51,314 vulnerable children. "Vaccines are essential for preventing and controlling outbreaks of infectious diseases," says Dr. Deo Kabila, MSF Medical Coordinator in Nigeria. "As a result of the two rounds of vaccination, we have already seen a decline of about 57 percent of measles cases at the Gummi General Hospital between June to December 2024 compared to the same period in 2023."
"Community leaders have been very supportive, granting us access to their communities," says Juliet Umenge, MSF Health Promotion Manager for routine immunisation in rural areas. MSF is committed to supporting state governments in the Northwest to ensure that every child is vaccinated to attain their full potential.
Abuja, 21 February 2025 - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has partnered with the Sokoto state Ministry of Health to launch a vaccination campaign aimed at protecting children against life-threatening diseases such as measles and diphtheria.
The campaign, which targets children under five years old, utilizes a measles vaccine and the Penta-5 vaccine, providing protection against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, whooping cough, and haemophilus influenzae type b. Additionally, MSF is conducting catch-up vaccines for children who may have missed their recommended doses of vaccines for polio, rotavirus, and tuberculosis, among others.
"We are committed to collaborating with the government to ensure every child is vaccinated against these deadly diseases," says Dr. Ahmad Bilal, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria.
The vaccination campaign is currently underway in Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Wamako, and Dange Shuni Local Government Areas (LGAs). In the first round of the vaccination exercise, which started in early November 2024, 53,095 children were vaccinated across six Local Government Areas in Sokoto state. Among these, 33,617 children, around 63 percent, had not received any vaccine doses prior to this campaign.
Measles has become endemic in many parts of Northern Nigeria, causing public health consequences. "This exercise is very important because measles is extremely contagious and especially dangerous for young children, particularly those suffering from malnutrition or other medical issues," says Dr. Bilal.
In 2024, MSF teams conducted a multi-antigen vaccination campaign in Gummi, Zamfara state, reaching 51,314 vulnerable children. "Vaccines are essential for preventing and controlling outbreaks of infectious diseases," says Dr. Deo Kabila, MSF Medical Coordinator in Nigeria. "As a result of the two rounds of vaccination, we have already seen a decline of about 57 percent of measles cases at the Gummi General Hospital between June to December 2024 compared to the same period in 2023."
Nigeria's immunisation coverage remains low, with at least 6.2 million children missing all their vaccines in the past five years. To improve the success of the vaccination campaigns, MSF is collaborating with community and religious leaders to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination.
"Community leaders have been very supportive, granting us access to their communities," says Juliet Umenge, MSF Health Promotion Manager for routine immunisation in rural areas. MSF is committed to supporting state governments in the Northwest to ensure that every child is vaccinated to attain their full potential.
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Health