Health ministers from across Africa have joined forces in a renewed commitment to stop the dangerous spread of diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable disease that has returned to threaten communities in eight member states. Convened by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, the high-level meeting brought together leaders from affected nations and key global health partners to align efforts and resources.
The urgent gathering included ministers and senior officials from Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and South Africa, alongside representatives from UNICEF, GAVI, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Together they addressed the alarming reality that more than ninety percent of reported cases occur among children who have not been fully vaccinated, revealing deep gaps in routine immunization coverage that have left populations vulnerable.
“Diphtheria is an entirely preventable disease that should not be resurfacing on this scale, we have a shared responsibility to ensure no child dies from an infection we have the power to stop, and that begins by making primary health care and routine vaccination our unwavering priority.” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
The resurgence signals broader systemic challenges, including fragile health systems, stagnant immunization rates, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In areas affected by conflict and displacement, insecurity and disrupted services have allowed outbreaks to spread unnoticed, increasing the risk of severe illness and death.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized the need for localized solutions, stating, “Strengthening community engagement and expanding Africa’s own vaccine manufacturing capabilities are essential to building resilient health systems that can prevent outbreaks before they start.”
During the meeting, participants agreed on a series of decisive actions: scaling up vaccination catch-up campaigns, strengthening surveillance and laboratory networks for early detection, improving clinical management of cases, and securing reliable access to essential medicines such as diphtheria antitoxin. Stronger community engagement was also highlighted as vital to building trust and ensuring vaccine acceptance.
The Minister of Health of Mauritania, Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Ely Mahmoud, expressed gratitude for the collaborative support, noting, “Our collective focus must remain on closing immunity gaps and enabling timely detection and response, especially for the most vulnerable among us.”
Source: WHO
