The Cross River Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) says it has achieved 99 per cent coverage in its ongoing Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign.
Dr Vivien Mesembe-Otu, Director-General of CRSPHCDA, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Friday in Calabar.
As of Day nine of the campaign, no fewer than 1,866,070 children had been vaccinated out of a target of 2,015,493, leaving a balance of 149,423 children yet to be reached.
She explained that the campaign recorded a 99 per cent daily settlement reach, with 8,696 out of 8,791 planned settlements covered across the state’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
According to her, the progress so far resulted from deliberate and inclusive collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders.
“The high coverage reflects the commitment of our health workers, partners, community leaders, and parents who have supported the campaign,” she said.
She said the exercise formed part of Nigeria’s national drive to eliminate measles and rubella in line with global public health targets.
The campaign is being implemented across the 18 LGAs, with Calabar Municipality serving as one of the key focal areas.
It targets children aged nine months to 14 years, with high turnout recorded at schools, primary healthcare facilities, and designated community outreach points.
“This reflects growing public confidence in childhood immunization and the effectiveness of local mobilization strategies,” she said.
Traditional and religious leaders, as well as community gatekeepers, played important roles in driving awareness and acceptance at the grassroots.
The Ministry of Education facilitated school-based sensitization and parental consent processes, while the Ministry of Women Affairs led community mobilization targeting mothers and caregivers.
“The involvement of these institutions ensured that accurate information reached households early enough to address concerns and misconceptions,” she said.
Frontline health workers said trust-building and local engagement were central to the campaign’s success.
Community health worker in Calabar Municipality, Mrs Mary Edet, said health workers in Edomutuok Ward worked closely with community structures to ensure no eligible child was missed.
“So far, we have not had any reports of side effects among the children,” she said.
Edet said mobilization efforts relied on trusted local channels, including town announcers and trained mobilizers who moved through neighborhoods to inform parents about vaccination schedules.
“We do not pressure anyone. We simply explain the importance of the vaccine, talk about possible side effects, and let parents understand the risks of measles outbreaks if children are not vaccinated,” she added.
Similar experiences were reported in schools participating in the campaign.
At Anointed Children International School in Calabar, Head Teacher Mrs Theresa Kenneth said there was broad acceptance of the vaccination among pupils, with parental consent obtained in almost all cases.
“Yes, we got consent from the parents. There was just one case where a mother said her child should not be vaccinated, but the others accepted it,” she said.
Kenneth attributed the high acceptance rate to sustained public awareness and clear communication between health authorities and schools.
“The health centre brought an official letter to the school, which helped parents understand the importance of the exercise,” she added.
Mrs Arit Ewifon-Eso, Focal Person at Edim-Otop Ward 2, said: “The measles–rubella vaccine is an improved version of the routine measles vaccine and has contributed significantly to reducing measles cases in the state.”
A petty trader, Mrs Mary Etam, said she was committed to ensuring her child completed the full vaccination schedule.
“If my child doesn’t get the vaccine now, I will make sure they catch up with it later. We have to follow through,” she said.
Dr Hilary Ozoh, Social Behaviour Specialist at UNICEF Field Office, praised the campaign: “People were coming out, actively seeking the service.
“In some cases, children even came on their own. Our work initially focused on schools, and there was virtually no rejection.”
On the supply side, he commended the readiness of health workers and availability of vaccines.
“This is a modern state in terms of vaccine acceptance, especially for campaigns like measles,” Ozoh said.
Authorities urged parents and caregivers to present eligible children at health facilities, schools, and outreach points before the end of the campaign to ensure full protection.
It was reported that the two-week exercise, which began on February 3, will end on February 15.
