Kwara begins integrated polio-measles rubella vaccines campaign Oct. 11–Official

The Kwara Government will flag off the Integrated Polio-Measles Rubella Vaccines campaign from Oct. 11 to Oct. 20, across the 16 local government area of the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu stated this on Friday in Ilorin, while speaking at the Media Dialogue on Integrated Measles-Rubella Vaccine Introduction and Polio Campaign.

Elelu, represented by Dr Michael Oguntoye, the Director of Primary Healthcare System in the Ministry of Health, described the media as playing crucial role in vaccination campaigns in Kwara.

She said that journalists assist in promoting positive social norms with respect to vaccination, reducing vaccine hesitancy and eliminating any misinformation.

Elelu therefore appealed to the media to always verify their information from credible news sources to avoid any misinformation.

Also speaking, Hajia Sarat Yunus, the State Immunisation Officer, described Measles as a highly infectious viral disease characterised by fever, maculopapular rash, fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and coryza (runny nose).

She stated that the disease could lead to severe complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, especially in young children and immunocompromised individuals.

“Measles is a leading cause of death among young children worldwide,” Yunus said.

The officer, who explained that Rubella is also known as German measles, typically causes mild measles-like illness in children and adults.

“Rubella infection in early pregnancy can result in severe birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).

“Between 2019 and 2024, Nigeria reported a total of 94,305 confirmed measles cases with 719 deaths, reflecting a case fatality rate of approximately 0.76 per cent,” she said.

Yunus added that the North-East region recorded the highest number of confirmed measles cases in the country.

The immunisation officer therefore underscored the importance of vaccination to prevent these diseases and safeguarding the lives of children in Kwara and Nigeria as a whole.

In his remarks, Dr Usman Danlami, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) representative, charged the media to help disseminate the need for wider coverage in vaccinating children across Kwara.

He noted that the media has the tool to counter misinformation, reach wider audience and keep society updated about emerging diseases.

According to him, media plays a vital role in promoting vaccination in Nigeria, and enjoined them on risks communication in eradicating misconception.

In his presentation, Mr Ibrahim Mohammad, the Social Behaviour Specialist of UNICEF, explained that the country has made remarkable progress in the fight against preventable diseases.

“We all stood tall as Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus, united by a single mission: to protect our children and communities from preventable diseases through vaccination,

“For decades, measles has been one of the leading killers of children under five. Rubella, though less well known, causes life-long harm when it infects pregnant women and children.

“With the introduction of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, we now have an additional, powerful tool to stop both of these diseases and protect generations yet unborn,” he said.

Mohammed said this historic step was possible through the leadership of government at all levels with strong support from UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi and partners.

He emphasised that the MR vaccine was safe, paid for by the government, and available for all eligible children from nine months to 14 years, free of charge.

“Our collective action is absolutely needed to end the transmission of the deadly poliovirus by the end of 2025. We know the oral polio vaccine has brought down the incidents of paralysis due to polioviruses by 99.9% around the world.

“But to defeat poliovirus, 95 percent of all children below the age of five need to receive the Oral Polio Vaccine in every vaccination round until the virus is completely eradicated.

“It is concerning that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of zero dose children in the world,” he said.

Mohammad observed that measles outbreaks still claim young lives, while Rubella continues to threaten unborn children, and there is continuing spread of the variant poliovirus in the country.

He therefore tasks media to amplify accurate information-so that parents know vaccines are safe, effective, paid for by the governments and provided at no additional charge.