From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency is to commence campaign for vaccination of children against Measles Rubella between October 4th to 13th this year.
The Executive Director of the Agency, Dr. Musa Muazu disclosed this at a one day media orientation forum held for selected media organisations in Lokoja, on Monday.
The Executive Director who was represented by his Deputy Director, Administration, Mallam Musa Bashir, hinted that Measles Rubella also known as German Measles is meant for children between nine months and fourteen years.
Dr. Muazu said that the essence of the one day media engagement is to acquaint journalists with relevant information about Measles Rubella that would enhance effective awareness creation and enlightenment of citizens down to the grass-roots on the preventive campaign.
According to the Executive Director, the preventive Measles Rubella vaccination campaign is expected to be carried out in the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi state at designated posts such as palaces of traditional rulers, market places and motor parks.
“However, after the October campaign, Measles Rubella vaccination would now return to our normal immunization routine” Dr. Muazu explained
He then called on parents across the 21 local government areas of the state to make their children available in their large numbers for the preventive vaccination against the dreaded disease.
He stressed that the media partnership would no doubt give adequate publicity that would facilitate huge success of the preventive vaccination campaign project
Dr. Abdulrahman Hudu of UNICEF had earlier briefed participants during the orientation gathering that Measles Rubella is a respiratory illness which can be contracted through transmission, air borne and direct contact
He explained that Measles Rubella which is also called German Measles is a little beat different from the normal measles saying that the only way to tackle the disease is through preventive measure of vaccines application since it is not curable.
He further explained that the virus could be tackled through 95% preventable vaccination
” Symptoms and hazards of measles or measles rubella includes; skin rashes, running nose, fever, brain damage, cough, blindness and death” Dr. Hudu enumerated
Mr. Shittu Momoh, State Vaccine Mobilization Officer, said that the media has a greater role to play in dissemination of information about routine immunization and urged the participants to take the project very serious.
He reiterated the determination of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen health services in the state through advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders and sensitisation of citizens to embrace attitudinal spirit geared towards complementing government’s efforts to achieve the laudable goal.
