Over one point one million children between the ages of 6 months to five years have been targeted for measles vaccination this year iin all the twenty five local government councils of Niger state.
Social and Behavior Change Consultant, Measles UNICEF Niger office Mr Abari Hassan Musa stated this during a meeting of stakeholders in Education and Media Roles in the Campaign Against Measles organized by the Niger State Healthcare Development Agency in partnership with UNICEF held in Minna.
Mr Abari Hassan Musa said that the vaccination campaign became necessary because according to him measles is no longer a seasonal disease as it used to be hence the engagement of two hundred and seventy five wards of the state in two phases to mitigate its impact.
He noted that schools, designated health facilities and palaces are the major targets for the vaccination where a good number of children can be vaccinated within a shortest possible time and appealed to parents to make their wards available for a hitch free campaign.
The consultant however lamented that from the record obtained by UNICEF from Federal Medical Centre in Bida local government council of the one thousand three hundred and forty seven cases of measle recorded eighteen children died this year which calls for collective efforts by all and sundry to address.
Mr Abari Hassan Musa further explained that first phase of the measles immunisation campaign will starts from thirty first of October to seventh November while the second phase comes up from eighth to eighteenth November this year.
Under the arrangement he said they will start with Agwara, Borgu, Edati, Magama, Kontagora, Mariga, Mashegu, Rafi, Mokwa, Rijau and Wushishi local government councils in the first phase of immunisation exeecise.
According to him the second phase will comprise of Chanchaga, Bosso, Paiko, Lapai, Gurara, Suleja, Lavun, Munya, Shiroro, Tafa, Katcha, Bida, Agaie and Gbako local government councils.
Mr Abari Hassan Musa added that they will also take advantage of the campaign to conduct an integrated birth registration exercise in view of its importance.
Cov Aliyu Lawal.