Sanwo-Olu’s wife flags off Integrated Measles Vaccination campaign
Measles
By Adekunle Williams
Lagos, June 16, 2022 (NAN) The Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has flagged off the 2022 Integrated Measles Vaccination campaign across the 57 Local Council Development Areas and Local Governments in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made this known during the vaccination campaign at Kosofe Local Government Area in Lagos on Thursday.
She noted that the campaign was done every three years and it was recommended by the World Health Organisation and National Primary Healthcare Agency as one of the main strategies to eliminate the virus.
The first lady noted that the campaign would end on July 4, reminding the people of the state that the measles was highly contagious and vaccine preventable.
She said that the campaign would be conducted for eight days to maximise their resources and to ensure they reach all the eligible four million children population during this period.
“The first batch is between June 17 to June 24 and the local governments that are in this category are, Agege, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ibeju Lekki, Kosofe, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Surulere.
“The second batch will start from June 27 and run till July 4 in Apapa, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, Ojo and Shomolu.
“A total of 8,100 vaccination teams will be available per stream across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that most of the children contracted the illness from other children that had high fever, cough, running nose and redness of the eyes.
According to her, sometime, parents leave their babies at the daycare centre; they play with one another and contracted these infections.
The first lady, however, said prevention is better than cure.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said this campaign would be integrated with other services to improve efficiency and effectiveness especially at the primary healthcare level.
Abayomi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Segun Ogboye, said that parents and caregivers could access multiple services at the same time.
The commissioner noted that measles vaccine, vitamin A and polio vaccine would be given to the children free of charge.
“The measles vaccine is for nine months to 59 months; the vitamin A is for six months to five years; while the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is for zero to five years.
“Other immunisation services will also be available from birth to 23 months.
“The teams will be providing the services mentioned above: measles vaccination, vitamins A supplement, routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination.
“They will be available at both public and private hospitals, schools, clinics, religious houses, houses of influential community leaders, all in a bid to reach the eligible population and achieve a 100 per cent coverage,’’ the commissioner said.
Abayomi said in Lagos State, there were 22 million population and still counting, saying that the Integrative, Innovative and Impact (III) approaches would be adopted.
He said with this approach, the state would be recruiting 30,000 health workers to help immunise the four million children in the state.
Also, the World Health Organisation Team Lead, Lagos Office, Dr Ahmed Kadiri, said the United Nations promoted the well-being of individuals and this campaign was to support Nigeria in her universal health coverage.
Kadiri said he was optimistic that the campaign team would deliver a good job in vaccinating the targeted children.
In his speech, the Chief of Health, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Dr Edward Blanko, noted that the campaign was the first if its kind because measles, polio, COVID-19, vitamins A were integrated together.
Blanko explained that the campaign was bringing efficiency and a new way of eliminating the virus in the country.
According to him, the campaign will bring impact, which will target four million children from zero to five years old.
He said 4.7 million children were expected to get vaccinated against polio and more than 1.7 million children were expected to get the COVID-19 vaccination.
The Executive Chairman, Kosofe Local Government, Mr Moyosore Ogunlewe, implored all community leaders to take advantage of the campaign and inform their communities.
Ogunlewe noted that in less than a year, he had been able to provide a new ambulance and launched a programme called Kosofe Cares for six years and above.
He said his administration had dewormed pupils in all primary schools and had partnered with Access Bank to build a new health centre in Oworonshoki which would be launched soon.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agboyi Ketu LCDA Chairman, Mr Dele Oshinowo; Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Chairman, Mrs Samiat Bada; amongst others, attended the flag-off ceremony. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
WAC/AJA
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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi
