The Wife of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mrs Seun Aiyedatiwa, has called on parents to protect their children from deadly diseases through vaccination.
Mrs Aiyedatiwa made the appeal on Wednesday while flagging off the Measles-Rubella and Malaria Vaccine (MRV) campaign in Akure.
She said the campaign aligns with national and global immunization goals and targets the prevention of two highly dangerous diseases with serious public health implications.
She described vaccination as a life-saving intervention that should be embraced and supported by all, given its impact on child survival and well-being.
“This campaign reminds us that, as we celebrate how far we have come as a state, we must also make deliberate efforts to protect our future. That future lies in the health and well-being of our children.
“This campaign represents a powerful statement that true development is not only about roads and buildings, but about ensuring healthy children who will carry Ondo State into the next 50 years,” she said.
According to her, measles remains one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses, while rubella infection during pregnancy can result in congenital rubella syndrome, leading to serious outcomes such as congenital heart defects, cataracts, hearing impairment, and developmental delays in infants.
She added that malaria is a leading cause of illness and death among children under five in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
Mrs Aiyedatiwa disclosed that the campaign targets more than 2.2 million children aged nine months to 14 years for the MR vaccine and 193,083 children aged five months to 21 months for the malaria vaccine.
She noted that other immunization services, including the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for nine-year-old girls and routine immunization, would also be provided.
The vaccines are safe, effective, and provided free of charge, she emphasized.
She appealed to parents and caregivers to embrace the integrated vaccination drive and not let rumors, fear, or misinformation prevent them from protecting their children.
Mrs Aiyedatiwa enjoined traditional rulers, religious leaders, health workers, and the community at large to intensify mobilization efforts for the campaign’s success.
“The failure of one child to receive the necessary vaccine is a collective failure for us all and a looming danger to the immunity we desire to keep our public health space strong in Ondo State,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu, commended the governor’s wife for championing the safety of mothers and children in the state.
Akanbiemu said her advocacy programmes had made positive impacts and noted that the vaccination exercise would last for 10 days.
“The vaccination is critical because those already affected by measles and rubella cannot tell a good story. Also, malaria remains the commonest among the five killer diseases in children,” he said.
He attributed the state’s high performance in immunization to massive government support, consistent funding, and resources.
Akanbiemu added that government interventions in the sector were having a tangible impact in health facilities across the state, reiterating that the MRV vaccine is free and safe.
A World Health Organization representative, Dr Ningi Nhu, described the campaign as a significant milestone in turning the tide against these diseases.
“Immunisation is one of the key interventions that are effective in ensuring the safety of lives and promoting good health of citizens; it promotes overall well-being.
“It is therefore necessary that efforts of the government are supported to ensure the success of the campaign.
“Ondo State will be the third state for malaria vaccination, and it is because of the exemplary leadership being shown by the state,” Nhu said.
In his remarks, a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Nigeria, Dr Sheik Kabir, described measles and rubella as very dangerous diseases that kill children, underscoring the need to support the campaign.
Kabir noted that the vaccine had been integrated into routine immunization and appealed to parents and caregivers to make the campaign successful.
