The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed her commitment to expanding vaccine coverage across the country to protect millions of children and women from preventable diseases.
Sen. Tinubu, who is the wife of President Bola Tinubu, made the remark on Monday during the flag-off of the Measles, Rubella, and HPV Vaccine Sensitization Campaign, organized under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in Port Harcourt.
Represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, the First Lady said the campaign was implemented by the RHI in collaboration with the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board, C-WINS, and international partners including WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and the Vaccine Alliance.
She explained that the programme was designed to protect millions of children and women from preventable diseases.
“This campaign targets children aged nine months to fourteen years across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State,” Tinubu said.
“The local rollout is expected to commence in February 2026. Rivers is among the fourth stream of phase one states participating in Africa’s largest-ever health initiative, targeting over 106 million Nigerian children for vaccination against measles, rubella, polio, and HPV.”
Tinubu described measles and rubella as highly contagious and potentially deadly, warning that rubella could cause severe complications for unborn babies if contracted by pregnant women.
She expressed optimism that the ongoing measles and rubella vaccination campaign in Rivers would surpass all previous records in scope and success.
“Through technical and financial support, this partnership will ensure that by February 2026, well-trained staff are deployed across communities to vaccinate all eligible children,” she said.
The First Lady emphasized that the vaccines are safe, effective, and free of charge in all health centres, urging parents and caregivers to cooperate with health workers.
In her remarks, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, commended the Renewed Hope Initiative for its sustained impact in the state. She said the sensitization programme marked a significant step in promoting public health awareness, particularly among women and children.
Odu also highlighted the benefits of the HPV vaccine for the girl child, describing it as “an investment in their future health and empowerment.”
The WHO State Coordinator in Rivers, Prof. Giwa Abdulganiyu, lauded the collaboration between the RHI and the state government, describing the campaign as “a worthy step in the right direction.” He reaffirmed WHO’s continued partnership in achieving health for all.
Earlier, the RHI Rivers Coordinator, Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, restated the initiative’s goal of reducing the incidence of measles and rubella in the state.
“These diseases have the potential to cause emergencies and great distress to families. Today’s flag-off represents our collective determination to raise awareness and prevent such tragedies,” she said.
