A family in Hotoron Yan Dodo community, Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State, has been plunged into deep sorrow after losing four of their five children to diphtheria within just two weeks.
The devastated father, Malam Yusuf Maitama, recounted to DAILY POST how his children fell ill one after another, showing symptoms such as fever, sore throat, nasal discharge, and a white membrane in the throat—classic signs of the deadly infection.
The first victim was his youngest daughter, under five years old, who died the same day she was taken to the hospital. Days later, her seven-year-old sister developed similar symptoms and also passed away despite medical intervention.
“That was the second child in one week,” Malam Yusuf said in tears. “At first, people even suggested maybe it was spiritual. But doctors confirmed it was diphtheria. That’s when I realized the rest of my kids were at serious risk.”
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Tragically, two more children succumbed despite urgent medical efforts, leaving only the eldest daughter alive after receiving critical treatment at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
The father, still reeling from the loss, could not mention the names of his late children due to the fresh pain of their passing. “It was just two days ago we buried the last one,” he said, his voice breaking.
The tragedy has thrown the entire Hotoron Yan Dodo community into mourning, with many parents now living in fear for their own children. Health officials have since fumigated the Maitama residence and administered vaccines to children in the area.
This heartbreaking case is not isolated. In 2024, three children from one family in Gaida, Kumbotso LGA, also died of diphtheria within a week.
When contacted, Kano State Ministry of Health spokesperson Nablusi Abubakar Kofar Naisa confirmed that most children who die of diphtheria are unvaccinated.
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“If you hear of a death, it’s likely the child was not vaccinated. That’s the main issue we’re dealing with,” he explained.
“The Kano government is making every effort to combat this disease, including setting up a special hospital for affected children and ensuring all hospitals conduct tests, provide free treatment, and continue mass vaccination campaigns.”
Diphtheria remains one of the deadliest vaccine-preventable diseases in Kano, one of the hardest-hit states in Nigeria. In 2023, the government declared an outbreak with over 10,000 infections and nearly 1,000 deaths recorded.
A 2025 study published by the National Library of Medicine reported a 4.5% fatality rate for diphtheria, with unvaccinated children found to be more than twice as likely to die from the disease compared to those fully immunized.
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Health experts warn that late hospital visits, cultural beliefs, and weak healthcare infrastructure continue to fuel fatalities. They urge parents to ensure their children are vaccinated and to seek immediate medical help once symptoms such as fever, sore throat, swollen neck, or breathing difficulties appear.
For Malam Yusuf, however, the warnings come too late. His family now lives with the irreplaceable loss of four young lives—a tragedy that underscores the urgent need for a stronger public health response and wider vaccine coverage.