Writing By Ali Muhammad Rabiu ; Editing By Godwin Duru
About 1.8 million pregnant women and children in Kwara state have been earmarked for measles rubella vaccination scheduled for October this year.
Speaking on the vaccination exercise in Ilorin, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Professor Nusirat Elelu, said that the vaccination exercise was aimed to bring down the morbidity and mortality rate of measles and rubella diseases among the target population.
Represented by the Director, Primary Healthcare System in the agency, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, Prof. Elelu called for support of media practitioners in fighting against misconception, misinformation and rumour, towards achieving effective health campaign.
In his lecture, Professor Adekunle Salaudeen, a Consultant with the International Vaccine Action Centre (IVAC), said that measles remains one of the leading causes of death among under-5 years children in Nigeria.
Professor Salaudeen said that Nigeria reported a total of 94,305 confirmed measles cases with 719 deaths between 2019 and 2024, reflecting case fatality rate (CFR) of approximately 0.76%.
He also said that 162 deaths were recorded out of 13,682 cases in 2022 (1.29%), 57 deaths out of 7,992 (0.7%) in 2023 and 53 deaths out of 6,104 cases in 2024.
In his address, UNICEF representative, Dr. Usman , called for support of all stakeholders especially, mass media professionals to help get the information on the vaccination exercise to grassroots areas in order to have a successful campaign.
He explained that mode of administration of the integrated measles and rubella vaccination is through injectable and oral, adding that vaccination is not an option but an exercise that should be supported by every stakeholder.
The UNICEF official said that problem of measles and rubella are prevalent where people are not vaccinated, noting that rubella disease, which is prevalent among pregnant women, has severe implication in pregnant women with irreversible health burden.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
