The Anambra State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has assured parents and caregivers of the safety, effectiveness and free availability of the Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccine ahead of the statewide immunisation exercise scheduled to commence on February 5.
The assurance was given on Friday during a media engagement organised by the State Ministry of Health in partnership with the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) and other stakeholders, to sensitise the public ahead of the vaccine’s introduction.
The Executive Secretary of ASPHCDA, Mrs Chisom Uchem, said the vaccination campaign would run from February 5 to February 15, targeting children between the ages of nine months and 14 years across the state.
Uchem explained that the media engagement, which also involved religious and community leaders as well as civil society organisations, was aimed at ensuring accurate and timely information about the vaccination reached all communities in Anambra.
She emphasised that the exercise would be conducted strictly by trained and licensed health practitioners, stressing that the vaccines were safe, effective and provided at no cost.
“We were all vaccinated as children and we are alive today. We cannot give our children what is harmful to them because their health is our priority,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF, the Social and Behaviour Change Consultant, Mr Victor James, described children as the future of the state and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to their health and wellbeing.
“It should not be heard that any child is affected by measles or rubella when we have the knowledge and means to prevent such diseases,” James said.
“The vaccine is safe for our children with no adverse effects. We urge all stakeholders to ensure that no child is missed during the exercise. The media should also promote demand for the vaccine through responsible reporting,” he added.
A paediatrician at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Dr Uju Chinenye, warned that non-immunisation could lead to increased disease outbreaks, higher mortality rates and long-term disabilities.
According to her, failure to vaccinate children also results in economic losses and poses serious threats to herd immunity, noting that sustained vaccination and strong community and government commitment remain critical to disease prevention.
The State Health Educator, Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, assured residents that health teams would adopt a house-to-house and community-based approach to ensure wide coverage.
“We will not wait for mothers to bring their children to primary healthcare centres. Our teams will go to markets, motor parks, churches, schools, mosques and other places where children gather,” she said.
READ ALSO: Fadahunsi Hails Akande at 87, Salutes Legacy of Progressive Politics, Democratic Struggle
She added that special arrangements, including the hiring of boats, had been made to reach riverine and hard-to-reach communities.
In his remarks, Mr Okonkwo Obunike of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustained advocacy and support for Anambra State to ensure the success of the Measles–Rubella vaccination campaign.
About The Author
