Ogun commissioner harps on importance of measles vaccination, seeks support
The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, has called for the support of all the stakeholders including parents and guardians, caregivers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and health workers among others to ensure the success of the 2024 Integrated Measles Vaccination Campaign which kicks off on Saturday, (Today).
Coker made this call on Friday during the flag-off of the vaccination campaign held at Siun community in the Obafemi/Owode Local Government area of the state.
The Commissioner said that the exercise marked a pivotal moment in the state’s ongoing public health initiatives, aimed at safeguarding the health of its younger population.
Speaking on the importance of the vaccination, Coker said, “This vaccination protects individual children and shields communities from outbreaks of highly contagious diseases like measles.
“So parents, guardians and caregivers should take advantage of this vital public health service by vaccinating their children. Parents contribute to the broader goal of eradicating measles and ensuring a healthier future for the next generation, and the vaccination is free, safe, and effective.”
Coker added that “The Measles campaign this year is targeting, approximately 1,136,953 children 9 months to 59 months spread across the 20 LGAs from October 19 to 25, 2024.
“Over 5,000 health workers will be deployed in teams to various posts during the 7 days of the campaign. I would also like to inform us that the campaign will involve the use of Government Health Facilities (Primary Secondary and Tertiary), Churches, Mosques, Market, Schools, Parks and Garages, and other designated temporary fixed posts.”
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, informed that the state government had trained and deployed over 5000 health workers for the exercise across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state for a successful vaccination campaign.
Ogunsola has therefore urged the parents and guardians as well as all the community leaders to support and cooperate with the state government for the success of this vaccination campaign by bringing forward children between nine months and 59 months to receive this vaccine.
The Olu of Siun, Oba Lawrence Odeyinka, lauded the initiative of the state government in ensuring the well-being of the children, imploring parents and caregivers to mobilise eligible children in their various communities to benefit from the programme.
In their separate remarks, the state Coordinator, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Victoria Adebiyi; state Consultant, Vaccine Security and Logistics, UNICEF, Mrs. Florence Moloku and a representative from World Health Organisation, Mrs. Catherine Bello, commended the initiative as a crucial step towards protecting every child in the state against Measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
