The Oyo State Government, in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Health (WHO), has launched a massive measles vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing over 2 million children aged between 9 months to 5 years.
This initiative is part of a nationwide effort to combat the resurgence of measles and protect children from the life-threatening disease.
The Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Muideen Babatunde Olatunji who was represented by the Director of Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Johnson Osoko, emphasized that measles, is a highly contagious airborne virus, that can cause blindness, severe complications, and death, and that this vaccine has averted millions of deaths globally between 2000 and 2022.
According to him, “this exercise is a major activity of the Primary Healthcare Board to protect our children from measles.”
“The campaign targets over two million children in Oyo State, especially those between 9 to 59 months, from October 19 to 25, 2024.
More than 5,000 health workers will be deployed across the state to ensure comprehensive coverage.”
“The state government has provided the necessary resources, including over a million doses of the measles vaccine, to ensure children in hard-to-reach areas are not left out.
Dr. Osoko highlighted the importance of the measles vaccine, calling it safe, cost-effective, and vital for combating the disease.
He said, stressing the urgency of the campaign before an outbreak occurs during the dry season.
In preparation for the campaign, the state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched a robust Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategy to raise awareness among parents and caregivers about the importance of vaccinating their children, he added.
Community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious organizations have been enlisted to help spread the message and dispel common myths about vaccines, he concluded.
Dr. Paul Ajayi of the World Health Organization (WHO) praised Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for its support of immunization services, noting the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.
He urged parents to take advantage of the free campaign to protect their children from this preventable disease.
Ibadan North Local Government Chairman, Mr Oluwaseun Olufade, called on residents to spread awareness about the campaign and other integrated vaccines
A parent, Akinleye Bolanle, also encouraged fellow parents to participate in the campaign to guard their children against measles.
