Niger State Government has officially flagged off the Integrated Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign for children between ages 9 months and 14 years across the 25 local government areas of the state.
The official ceremony which was held in Bida, was performed by Fatima Umar Bago, who emphasized the campaign’s importance in protecting children from preventable diseases.
Bago describes measles and rubella as major threats to the health and survival of young children appealing to mothers and caregivers to take advantage of the exercise by visiting the nearest vaccination centres.
She noted that it is the community’s role in ensuring that no child is left behind.
The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, commended the initiative, describing it as a milestone in the state’s health sector.
He urged mothers to turn out in large numbers, noting that the vaccine is safe and essential for child protection.
According to him, “It is our responsibility to ensure that our children benefit from this important exercise. I want to tell you that the vaccine is good for our children and does not affect human development.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Imam, stated that the campaign aims to vaccinate all eligible children to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among women and children.
He revealed that the exercise covers all 274 wards across the state and includes the administration of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), Malaria, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and other routine immunizations.
Usman further disclosed that the state government has provided all necessary resources to ensure the campaign’s success.
Representing the Chief of the Kaduna Field Office, UNICEF, Dr. Gerida Birukila, the UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. Ahmed Tsofo, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the fight against measles and rubella in Niger State.
Development partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), AFENET, and GAVI also pledged their continued support toward achieving the campaign’s objectives.
Highlight of the event was the symbolic administration of vaccine doses to children by Fatima Bago and Yahaya Abubakar, marking the official commencement of the statewide campaign in the state.
