ANAMBRA TARGETS 2.7 MILLION CHILDREN IN STATEWIDE MEASLES–RUBELLA VACCINATION DRIVE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Anambra State Government has launched a statewide measles–rubella vaccination campaign aimed at immunising more than 2.7 million children aged between nine months and 14 years.
The two-week exercise, which began on Wednesday, was officially flagged off by the wife of the state governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, at the Izuzu Primary Health Care Centre in Dunukofia Local Government Area.
The campaign is being implemented through a collaboration between the state government and key national and international partners, including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other stakeholders.
A visit to several vaccination centres across the state on Thursday showed a high turnout of mothers and caregivers presenting their children for immunisation, with the exercise progressing smoothly. Most of the children vaccinated were infants.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Dr Soludo described vaccination as one of the most effective and safest ways of protecting children from preventable diseases. She acknowledged that some children may experience mild reactions such as fever or swelling after vaccination but stressed that such effects are temporary and far less dangerous than measles or rubella.
Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, she reassured parents that trained health workers had been deployed for the exercise and that referral systems were in place to handle any adverse reactions.
She also called on parents, caregivers, local government authorities, school administrators and religious leaders to support the campaign, urging them to help ensure that at least 98 per cent of eligible children in the state are vaccinated.
The Zonal Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Samuel Obasi, said measles and rubella remain major public health concerns in Nigeria, particularly among children. He expressed optimism that Anambra State would record significant success in the campaign due to the government’s strong commitment to healthcare delivery.
Similarly, the WHO Zonal Coordinator, Dr Chimuanya Igboekwu, explained that measles and rubella have similar symptoms, making combined vaccination essential for effective disease prevention. He assured that the WHO and its partners would continue to support the state to achieve full coverage across all 326 wards, including markets, schools, churches and hard-to-reach communities.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, and the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Pharmacist Chisom Uchem, said robust monitoring and supervision mechanisms had been put in place to ensure effective mobilisation and maximum coverage throughout the vaccination exercise.
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