The Kaduna State Major Well being Care Board has launched an built-in measles and rubella vaccination marketing campaign to curb baby mortality and stop the unfold of vaccine-preventable illnesses throughout the state.
The train, which started on Saturday, goals to immunise greater than 4.2 million kids throughout all 23 native authorities areas of Kaduna State.
Supported by UNICEF, the World Well being Organisation (WHO), and different growth companions, the marketing campaign targets kids aged between 9 months and 14 years as a part of efforts to deal with childhood killer illnesses.
Talking on the flag-off, the Director of Illness Management and Immunisation, Dr. Hamza Ibrahim, mentioned the marketing campaign would assist cut back the variety of “zero-dose” kids, those that have by no means acquired any type of vaccination, within the state.
He revealed that Kaduna accounts for about 10 p.c of the 100 native authorities areas nationwide battling the zero-dose problem, with greater than 4,000 unvaccinated kids recognized.
“Regardless that we’re a big quantity, our progress to this point is because of the dedication of neighborhood girls and the help of growth companions in decreasing the variety of zero-dose kids,” Dr. Ibrahim mentioned.
“With UNICEF, WHO, CHAN, CHI, and different companions supporting the state authorities, we’re optimistic about reaching each eligible baby,” he added.
Additionally talking, the State Well being Educator, Yusha’u Isah, mentioned the built-in marketing campaign would deal with a number of vaccine-preventable illnesses, together with measles, rubella, polio, and diphtheria.
“For now, now we have ongoing transmission of diphtheria in additional than 19 native governments, whereas all native governments have reported measles instances this yr,” he mentioned.
He defined that the marketing campaign was designed to halt illness transmission and strengthen kids’s immunity, including that preparations had been made to succeed in kids in hard-to-reach and security-compromised areas, together with Internally Displaced Individuals (IDP) camps.
“We’re collaborating with safety businesses, conventional leaders, and neighborhood stakeholders to make sure full entry and protection,” Isah said.
The consultant of the Nationwide Major Well being Care Growth Company (NPHCDA), Elizabeth Hassan, assured that the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine is protected, efficient, and accredited by each NAFDAC and the WHO, noting that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s purpose of eliminating measles and rubella by 2030.
Well being authorities have urged dad and mom and guardians to convey all eligible kids to vaccination centres and momentary posts throughout the state, emphasising that the vaccine is freed from cost.
