Kwara vaccinates 421,820 children against measles
By AbdulFatai Beki
Measles
Ilorin, April 16, 2018 (NAN) The Kwara Government says 421,820 children between nine months and five years have been vaccinated against measles in the state.
Alhaji Ahmed lbn-Mohammed, the Chairman, Kwara House of Assembly Committee on Health, confirmed the development in llorin on Monday.
Ibn-Mohammed (APC-Kaima-Wajibe-Kemanji) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the vaccination took place from March 1 to 13 in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
While describing it as a huge success, the health committee chairman said the exercise was conducted in collaboration with the state and the Federal Government to eliminate killer diseases amongst children.
“The vaccination of children against outbreak of measles in the state provided an opportunity for parents who did not take immunisation for their children since childhood and recorded a huge success,” the lawmaker said.
He called for the sustenance of the collaboration so that measles and other killer diseases could be wiped out from the state.
Ibn-Mohammed said the committee would intensify efforts on its oversight functions in the health sector to ensure well-being of residents.
He advised the people to always ensure a clean environment to prevent outbreak of diseases. (NAN)
BEKl/ESAN/MST
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Master Chukwuemeka receiving measles vaccination at Olatilewa Street, Lawanson Bus stop, Lawanson, , Lagos. March 26, 2018 (NAN)
Measles
By Okuanwan Offiong and Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, March 26, 2018 (NAN) As the Lagos State 2018 Mass Measles Campaign enters its last week, observations show that many residents have continued to participate in the programme which started on March 15, to end on March 29.
However, some residents of the state called for an improved visibility on the part of the vaccinators so that the campaign targeted at capturing 3.6 million children would achieve its set goal of protecting children and reducing the burden of the disease in the state.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria’s (NAN) who visited some locations in Lagos on Sunday and Monday observed that the vaccinators were immunising children.
They observed that those that were being immunised include those going to and coming from churches and schools, who had not been immunised during this present campaign.
Commenting on the exercise, Mrs Tolu Alaba, a parent whose child was immunised at the Lawanson Bus stop at Olatilewa road, Ramoni Ward, Surulere LGA, told NAN that the initiative was laudable.
” I am happy to see the vaccinators at the bus stop , calling out to people to bring out their children for immunisation.
“It has afforded my children the opportunity to be vaccinated as I would not have been able to go to the health centre for it.
“The vaccinators were the ones that called us that we should bring our children for vaccination; it just took a few minutes to get it done.
“I encourage every parent to present their children and wards for immunisation against measles before the time elapses,’’she said.
Mrs Zainab Sunmola, a mother who was seen at the Alves Primary Health Centre point, Mushin LGA, said she was also happy that her child benefited from the immunisation.
According to her, she did not know about the campaign until she saw the immunisation team at a location on Aborishade Road.
She also urged parents to bring out their children for the 2017/2018 immunisation against measles.
NAN also saw some residents participating in the campaign at locations near the Itire-Ijesha Primary Health Centre, Itire and Shitta, Surulere.
However, some residents said that they were not aware of the vaccination against measles and called for an increased sensitisation within communities.
Mr Dapo Oluseyi said,“Many of us do not know about this exercise; I think there should be more awareness so that more people can participate before it closes.
“Again, aside those in the PHCs, hospitals and permanent centres, the people administering the vaccination do not stay long enough at other designated locations.
“You see them and within one or two hours, they have left,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Emma Oka who lives in FESTAC town told NAN that there would be be the need for intensified penetration into communities as he had not seen vaccinators around his estate.
However, at Ikorodu, Lagos, Mrs Abigail Oduh told NAN that the vaccinators were going around the neighbourhood urging people to bring out their children for vaccination against measles.
“These vaccinators are going round with their megaphones calling people to bring their children for immunization.
“The vaccinators have immunised my baby and I am glad that they did,’’ she said.
Mr Kayode Adesokan, a team leader from the Alves Primary Health Centre told NAN that parents and residents were cooperating with the vaccinators.
According to him, community members are also cooperating by giving them spaces in their compounds or in front of their houses, providing tables and benches, for them to stay and immunise children.
He urged parents to get their children protected against measles, “The vaccine is free, safe and saves lives.
“Measles is a very dangerous viral disease and it is highly infectious; it spreads among children mostly in crowded areas like homes, schools and markets.
“When a child shows symptoms of measles such as high fever, redness of eyes, running nose and rash; take the child to the nearest health facility immediately.
“If a child contracts measles, it can lead to other complications including diarrhoea; eat infections, brain infection, pneumonia, blindness and even death, so, get your child vaccinated today,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the 2017/2018 LASG Mass Measles Campaign is targeted at immunising children of between nine months and five years, as well as eligible children, irrespective of previous vaccination history.
It is being conducted in all health facilities in the state as well as designated posts in communities, including bus stops, pharmacies and street points.
The 2018/2018 campaign has been tagged: ”Catch-up” campaign; it is to mop-up or reach children that had been missed during the exercise over the years, so as to meet the 95 per cent target coverage.
It is in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, the National Primary Healthcare Board Development Agency and other partners. (NAN)
Ife East LGC immunises 44,100 children against measles
By Dorcas Elusogbon
Immunisation
Ile-Ife (Osun), March 13, 2018 (NAN) The Ife East Local Government Council of Osun says it has immunised 44,100 children against measles during this year’s first round of National Immunisation Days.
Mrs Foluke Olawoyin, the Local Immunisation Officer (LIO) in the area, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ile-Ife on Tuesday that the children were aged between nine months and five years.
She said that 10 electoral wards were covered within 12 days of the programme.
Olawoyin said that government had sensitised parents and care givers on the importance of the programme through advertisement on both broadcast and print media.
She said government had also made provision for parents whose babies were yet to be immunised to do so in government healthcare centres.
Olawoyin said the council was also administering other vaccines on children like pentavalent, hepatitis, yellow fever, poliomyelitis and Tetanus Toxoid (TT), among others.
She added that the vaccines are free, safe and have no adverse effect children.
Olawoyin, therefore, advised nursing mothers to always cooperate with the government by immunising their children to protect them from silent killer diseases. (NAN)
EDA/ABI/MST
Edited by Ali Inuwa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Measles: FCT immunises 701,767 children
NAN-HG-9
Measles
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, March 8, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board says it has immunised 701,767 children against measles in the just concluded vaccination in the territory.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Mathew Ashikeni, disclosed this while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Ashikeni explained that the figure which represented 112.2 per cent coverage surpassed the target figure of 625,440 children.
He said that the success recorded during the exercise was due to commitment of FCT administration and development partners.
NAN recalls that the measles vaccination took place from Feb. 10 to 22 followed by a week mop up exercise to address the missed children.
The executive secretary lauded traditional rulers and religious leaders in FCT for their roles in achieving the feat.
“The roles played by our traditional rulers and community leaders can never be over emphasised especially in mobilisation and sensitisation of the residents,” he said.
Ashikeni also commended the team of vaccinators that participated, for their hard work and commitments in ensuring success during the exercise.
He said that the board would continue to provide all the necessary supports to ensure no child died of any preventable diseases in the territory. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Measles can trigger lung infection – Physician
NAN-HG-10
Measles
By Ummul Idris
Abuja, March 7, 2018 (NAN) A general physician, Dr Mercy Luka, has warned that measles can cause infection of the lung, commonly popularly known as pneumonia.
Luka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that measles or pneumonia was the most common cause of death in young children.
She said that unvaccinated children and those with low immunity or malnutrition tend to have measles or pneumonia at the early stages of the disease.
She said that it often delayed the healing of the disease with increased coughs, shortness of breath and high fever.
According to her, measles is an airborne virus that is highly contagious but can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine.
The physician said that the disease could be contagious from four days and four days after the rash appears.
“When an infected person coughs, breathes, sneezes he transmit the disease in tiny droplets.
“But it primarily affect those who are not vaccinated with MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) vaccine,’’ she said.
She added that unvaccinated person who shares a house with a measles patient could hardly escape infection.
She said that the measles usually come with fever and develops a very high body temperature.
Luka said that usually at the late stage of the infection, once the rash had already developed the fever subsides. (NAN)
UMD/OFN/MST
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Measles: FCTA conducts mop up vaccination
NAN-HG-2
Measles
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Feb. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board has commenced a mop up vaccination on measles to ensure all the children in the territory were immunised.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Mathew Ashikeni, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
NAN recalls that the two weeks measles vaccination which ended last Thursday targeted 619,000 children from nine months to five years.
Ashikeni explained that the need for mop up became necessary to ensure all the missed children during the main exercise were captured.
He said that the mop up will be held in Abuja Municipal Area Council and some wards in the five other area councils.
“This mop up exercise which we just commenced on Sunday will last for one week and our goal is to ensure we achieve 100 per cent coverage.
“And within this period, the vaccines will be available in our health centres and hospitals to ensure children who could not get it during the just concluded immunisation will be given the opportunities to be vaccinated,” he said.
The scribe appealed to parents and caregivers whose children were not immunised to bring them out for the mop up exercise.
He said that in spite the few cases of missed children, the vaccination had recorded a tremendous success in the territory. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Measles: Obi LGC task parents on immunisation
NAN-HG-4
Measles
By Awayi Kuje
Obi (Nasarawa State), Feb. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Obi Local Government Council of Nasarawa State has urged parents to present their children for measles immunisation in order to eradicate the deadly disease from the area.
Hajiya Sa’adatu Yahaya, the Chairman, Interim Management Committee of the council, made the call on Friday during a one-day sensitisation rally in Obi.
Yahaya appealed to parents in the area to avail their children the opportunity of the ongoing measles vaccination in the state.
The council boss said that the essence of the campaign was to educate the people on the dangers of the outbreak of measles in some states of the federation.
She said the campaign was part of her efforts at preventing children from untimely death, adding that the vaccination is safe.
“This measles immunisation is not harmful, hence the need for parents to cooperate with vaccinators to eradicate the disease.
“The council will leave no stone unturned toward ensuring the success of the exercise and other child killer immunisation exercise, plus other health programmes to improve the health status of our people.
“We want to make sure that communities in this area are keyed into the response effort of both the state and federal governments, hence the need for enlightening the people on the importance of the immunisation,” she said.
Yahaya also called on mothers to ensure that every child was presented for the vaccination to improve the health of children.
Besides, she called on all stakeholders to partner in ensuring that every child in the area was vaccinated
The council boss commended the state government for its commitment to the immunisation and other health programmes and called for its sustenance.
Yahaya called on the people of the state to support the APC-led administration to enable it deliver the much needed dividends of democracy to the electorate.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council’s Director of Health, Mr Adamu Ladan, and other health workers attended the rally. (NAN)
AKW/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Measles: FCTA to hold vaccination in 3,998 settlements
NAN-HG-5
Measles
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Feb 1, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has identified 3,998 settlements for vaccination against measles.
The exercise would hold between Feb. 8 and Feb. 20.
The Secretary of Health Secretariat and Human Resources, Mrs Amanda Pam, announced at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Pam, who was represented by Dr Bamidele Babade, a Director from the secretariat, said that all the eligible children within the settlements have already been identified with a view to immunise all of them.
She explained that about 620,000 children are targeted to be immunised, while 1,400 team of vaccinators had been engaged to carry out the exercise across the six area councils in the territory.
According to her, the forthcoming vaccination is targeting 100 per cent coverage because no child from nine months to five years in the FCT will be left out.
The secretary stated that certified health workers have been engaged and trained to conduct the immunisation.
“The FCT Minister, Alhaji Musa Bello, gives health a high priority as he has already released the counterpart funding for the exercise.
“For the fact that we didn’t meet the target in 2015 campaign has made FCT to have pockets of cases of measles in some parts of the territory and we will not allow such to happen this time around.
“We have mapped out our strategies to ensure that every child in the identified settlements including IDPs and nomadic is immunised,” she said.
Pam tasked the media to help in mobilising parents and caregivers to bring out their kids for the vaccination. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Measles: FCTA targets 700,000 children for immunisation
NAN-H-75
Measles
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Jan. 18, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board says over 700,000 children will be immunised against measles in the immunisation exercise scheduled to hold in February.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Mathew Ashikeni, disclosed this at the sensitisation meeting for measles vaccination campaign in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Ashikeni, the forthcoming immunisation is targeting 100 per cent coverage to ensure every child from nine months to five years in the territory is vaccinated.
He disclosed that the FCT Minister, Alhaji Musa Bello, had already approved funds to be released for the programme.
“1,370 vaccinators will be engaged to carry out the exercise across the six area councils” in the FCT, he said.
He added that out of this figure, 1,215 regular teams would be deployed to normal vaccination centres, while 155 special teams would posted to places like markets, streets and other public places.
The acting executive secretary said that 3,008 vaccination sites had been designated for the exercise, adding that there will be fixed centres in PHC facilities and other new ones will be created.
Ashikeni stated that only competent and licensed nurses would be engaged to carry out the vaccination.
“We are targeting 100 per cent coverage and will do everything possible to make sure no child in the territory is left out.
“We have mobilised all our stakeholders and put necessary things in place to adhere strictly to standards that will ensure a successful immunisation exercise,” he said.
He noted that the FCT administration was committed to prevent the outbreak of measles in the territory because “a lot of the cases of blindness you see among our children is the consequence of complications from measles and it is also life threatening.
“Measles cause brain infection, life threatening diarrhoea, vomiting and malnutrition, and many affected children die if it is not properly managed,” he added.
Ashikeni appealed to parents and guardians to bring their children out to be immunised in the exercise that would commence from Feb. 8 to 20.
He said that the exercise would be conducted in phases, Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari would hold theirs from Feb. 8 to 13, while the remaining four area councils would start on Feb. 15 through Feb. 20. (NAN)
MS/IFY/MST
Edited by Ify Omowole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Yobe launches campaign against measles
NAN-HG-2
Measles
By Mohammed Mamman
Damaturu, Nov. 3, 2017 (NAN) UNICEF says 23,893 cases of measles have been recorded in Yobe between January and June, this year.
Mr Samuel Sesay, the UNICEF Consultant in the state, made this known on Friday at a workshop for Measles Vaccination Campaign in Damaturu.
He attributed the high figure to security challenges and poor attitude of parents to present their wards for vaccination.
“We have observed non-compliance by parents and lack of trust in the vaccination exercise by parents and guardians,’’ Sesay said.
According to him, the new exercise will be conducted in two phases starting with eight local government areas of Bade, Bursari, Damaturu, Karasuwa, Machina, Nangere, Potiskum and Yunusari.
“The second phase will cover Fika, Fune, Geidam, Gujba, Gulani, Jakusko, Nguru and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas,’’ he said.
Sesay said that the exercise would be conducted in designated health centres, palaces of traditional rulers and schools.
He said that the Yobe Primary Health Care Management Board would partner the military to extend the coverage to remote areas.
The consultant called for partnership with the media to educate the populace and eradicate misinformation about measles vaccination to ensure the success of the exercise. (NAN)
MM/AJA/MST
Edited by Adeleye Ajayi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
