A Daily Trust editorial laments that Nigeria continues to grapple with a major diphtheria outbreak in 2026, despite the disease being vaccine-preventable. The piece argues that with a functional routine immunisation system and effective public health infrastructure, diphtheria should be largely under control, yet children are once again dying, according to recent reports. The editorial calls for stronger public health action to address the outbreak.

Vaccine uptake has been declining in Brazil and South Africa over the last decade, reversing gains in protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio. Both countries have universal and free childhood immunisation programmes, yet Brazil has seen a drop of 10-20 percentage points in coverage since 2016, remaining below the 95% target for routine vaccines. South Africa's vaccination coverage has also steadily declined since 2015.

Nigeria's counterfeit medicine crisis stems from longstanding weaknesses in the country's pharmaceutical regulatory system, according to Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Adeyeye attributed the prevalence of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria to regulatory gaps that have persisted over time, highlighting the need for stronger oversight of the pharmaceutical sector, Nairametrics reported.

A diphtheria outbreak has killed 39 children in Zamfara State, Nigeria, according to ThisDay Live, prompting an urgent vaccination response from UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Health. The report describes conditions at the Infectious Disease Centre in Damba, where mothers sit with affected children in the ward. Health authorities are working to contain the spread of the disease through emergency immunisation efforts across affected communities in the northwestern state.

Lagos is facing a diphtheria scare after 53 suspected cases were reported and six infections confirmed, according to PM News. The state commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and seek prompt medical care for severe sore throat, fever, weakness, difficulty swallowing or breathing, neck swelling, or a white or greyish membrane at the back of the throat.

An analysis published by Punch argues that Nigeria's recent memorandum of understanding between the National Identity Management Commission and the Nigerian Postal Service is insufficient on its own to fix the country's addressing problems. According to the piece, a postcode system alone cannot deliver progress, and Nigeria instead needs a layered approach combining digital addressing with identity verification. The article frames this missing 'operating layer' as essential for effective service delivery and digital development.