Federal Ministry of Health Announces Full Preparedness for the Launch of the National Diphtheria Outbreak Response Campaign
The Federal Ministry of Health, represented by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and the Health Promotion Directorate, has announced the completion of all preparations for the launch of the national diphtheria outbreak response campaign.
The campaign will cover Phase One – Round Two in Al-Damazin locality in the Blue Nile Region, Haya locality in Red Sea State, the localities of Kassala City, Atbara River, Halfa, and Al-Gurba in Kassala State, Karari locality in Khartoum State, and the localities of Dongola, Al-Dabbah, and Merowe in Northern State.
It also includes Phase One – Round Three in River Nile State. In addition, Phase Two – Round One will commence in Sheikan locality in North Kordofan State, Bahri locality in Khartoum State, and the localities of West Kassala and Aroma in Kassala State.
Mohammed Al-Hussein Al-Haj, Head of the Federal Campaign Operations Room, stated that the campaign targets children and young people aged 5 to 20 years, with an estimated 2,712,304 beneficiaries.
He explained that the campaign will be implemented in phases. The first phase will run from 1–6 August 2026 in Blue Nile, Red Sea, North Kordofan, and River Nile states. In Kassala State, the campaign will take place from 2–7 August, while Khartoum and Northern states will implement the campaign from 10–15 August 2026.
Al-Haj confirmed that all technical and logistical preparations have been completed in the targeted states and localities. The campaign will be delivered through three strategies: fixed vaccination sites, temporary outreach posts, and mobile vaccination teams.
He emphasized that the diphtheria vaccine is safe, effective, and provided free of charge, offering strong protection when the recommended three-dose schedule is completed.
He urged families to ensure that all eligible children and young people receive the vaccine and to bring their previous diphtheria vaccination cards during the campaign to facilitate verification of vaccination status and ensure that each beneficiary receives the appropriate dose.
He also noted that the Federal Campaign Operations Room has been established to oversee the implementation of the campaign. The operations room held its first meeting on Friday evening to review the readiness of the targeted states and assess preparatory reports ahead of the campaign’s launch.