Ondo begins Measles Campaign October 5, 2024
… Urges Stakeholders to sensitize mothers
By Muhammad Abdulwahab
In a concerted effort to curb the resurgence of measles, stakeholders have been urged to continue sensitizing mothers on the need to embrace the prompt vaccination of their children.
This has become most necessary as Ondo State joins others in Phase 1 of the measles campaign on October 5, 2024.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA), Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, made the call while addressing stakeholders at a meeting on the Integrated Measles Vaccination Campaign in Akure on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Akanbiemu, who appreciated the stakeholders for their continuous support of his organization, urged them to encourage residents to participate in vaccination efforts across the state.
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He reiterated the importance of vaccination, emphasizing that mothers should be educated to embrace the prompt vaccination of their children.
Akanbiemu, while highlighting the importance of vaccination for children, disclosed that 150 million children’s lives have been saved since the inception of vaccination in Nigeria in 1974.
He stressed that every vaccination is beneficial to children and that they must be presented for all vaccinations.
According to Akanbiemu, the vaccinations, which are free, aim at preventing child-killer diseases as he commended Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for his support of vaccination activities in the state.
The State Immunization Officer, Mrs. Comfort Olagundoye, while presenting an overview of the integrated measles campaign in the state, emphasized the goal of achieving 95% vaccination coverage for measles, 80% for yellow fever, and over 85% for zero-dose children in underserved local government areas.
She stressed the importance of providing a second opportunity for children to receive both the measles and yellow fever vaccines and highlighted the critical need to strengthen health systems through such campaigns.
Olagundoye further explained that measles affects children aged 9 to 59 months, and it can spread through airborne droplets, skin-to-skin contact, and even from mother to child during pregnancy or nursing.
While declaring that measles can be prevented with the measles vaccination, she highlighted symptoms that include a rash, fever, red eyes, cough, and runny nose, but the infection is preventable through timely vaccination.
She stated that the introduction of the measles vaccine has reduced the number of deaths from over 2 million to about 100,000, noting that Nigeria ranks first in the global burden of measles and that the country has approached its control through vaccination.
The Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Mrs. Oluwaseun Inetagbo, outlined the responsibilities of various stakeholders in ensuring successful vaccination efforts as she encouraged religious and community leaders to lead by example by getting vaccinated, educating their followers about the importance of immunization, and debunking vaccine myths through evidence-based information.
She also emphasized the need for door-to-door mobilization in hard-to-reach areas and the involvement of media outlets to broadcast vaccination messages.
Participants at the event, including traditional and religious leaders, voiced their appreciation for the initiative and called for even greater mobilization efforts.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives of traditional rulers, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, and paramilitary officers.
Among the dignitaries at the event were the representative of the Deji of Akure, Dr. Yusuf, representing the Chief Imam of Akure, the Ondo State C.A.N. Chairman, paramilitary leaders such as ASCII-Assistant Superintendent of Corps II Ann C. Egwin of the NSCDC Safe School Unit, and Chief Stella Ogundipe, the Iyaloja of Ọsẹ Local Government.
