Measles: Over 1m children for vaccination in Anambra

Chinedum Treasure

No fewer than 1.1million children from Anambra State are targeted to be vaccinated against measles in a week long Supplementary Immunisation Activity, SIA, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency has said.

State Health Educator, Uju Onwuegbuzina, gave the statistics at the Zonal Meeting ahead of the 2024 Integrated Measles Campaign with the theme – ‘Immunisation: A Community Responsibility for a Healthier Future’.

The 2024 Integrated Measles Campaign
organised by United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) and the National Orientation Agency would be implemented in Anambra, Benue, Enugu, Cross River and Kogi states.

Onwuegbuzina said the state had received 1,227,113 doses of the measles vaccines for the vaccination of children in 330 wards across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

She said the Measles vaccination is scheduled to start on Oct 12 and end on Oct. 18, in all health facilities, designated fixed and mobile posts in communities, churches, schools and markets.

Assuring the preparedness of the Agency for a hitch-free exercise, Onwuegbuzina however identified certain security-compromised areas which she said had posed serious challenges in reaching children for vaccination.

She listed the Ihiala, Nnewi South, Orumba South, and Ogbaru as the security prone council areas.

She said, “To ensure no child is left behind and for us to meet the target of vaccinating 1,168,679 children, we will use indigens of these security-compromised areas to carry out the campaign since they know the areas better.

“Anambra is ready for implementation as we have commenced media engagements to intensify awareness, advocacy visits to traditional, community and religious leaders as well as training of vaccination teams.

“This campaign is very important to protect our children from this killer disease and secure their future. So, we encourage parents and caregivers, to bring out their children for vaccination.

Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, UNICEF, Dr Hilary Ozoh described the media as critical to achieving the national target of 95 per cent coverage during the vaccination campaign

He revealed that the vaccination was for children from 9 to 59 months of age, as well as eligible children irrespective of previous vaccination history.

“We appeal to the media to write data-based stories targeted at informing, educating and enlightening Nigerians on the measles campaign to ultimately improve health services in the state.

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