OGSG, UNICEF To Commence Yellow Fever, Measles Vaccination Campaign June 17

Ogun State Government will on Friday, 17th June, 2022 embark on state wide campaign against yellow fever and measles among children and the youths with mass vaccination exercise.

The State Ministry of information in collaboration with UNICEF disclosed this on Thursday at a strategic Social Mobilization and Technical Working meeting with journalists.

The State Health Educator, Primary Healthcare Development Board, Alh. Elegbede Waheed who spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital noted that the country has recorded over 61 cases of measles in the last 5months, hence, the need to contain the widespread of the disease through the elimination campaign.

Elegbede who spoke on the theme: Role of Ministry of Information and strategy in projecting intervention on child survival and development, solicited for media intervention in enlightening the masses on the advantages of the exercise.

He said the vaccination is free adding that contrary to the house to house strategy, the vaccination will only take place at the designated places between June 17 and July 8, 2022.

Elegbede explained that measles is a contagious disease causes by virus which commonly affect children under age 5 with a fever at 38°c.

He said the government would embark on the mass vaccination against measles and yellow fever for children between the ages of 9months to 44years, saying the vaccination exercise will take place at public health facilities and designated vaccination posts such as schools, religious centres, markets, motor parks, among others.

He added that, the commonly symptoms of measles are body rashes, running nose, and cough, calling on parents and guardians to avail the children of the free vaccination exercise to protect them against the virus.

He assured that, security measures have been put in place to prevent stampedes or overcrowding at the vaccination centres.

According to him, the vaccination exercise is in collaboration between Ogun state government and UNICEF.

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity. There are some people that are confused, so, as a bridge between the people, we need to give out good communication.

“We are starting measles and yellow fever vaccination campaign in the state. Measles is highly contagious disease caused by virus. And it’s something that affects children under 5, aside that, measles also leads to high mortality rate and morbidity rate among children under 5.

“By the time you start seeing rashes, the rashes start from the neck, that’s when you start suspecting measles. And it is spread by coughing and sneezing. Measles is endemic in Nigeria and transmission occurs throughout the year. There is a seasonal pattern every year. It breaks between January and April every year. Some months ago, we have been some children coming up with some rashes, some of them coming up with temperature, this tells us that measles is still around.

“We have high incidence of measles cases coming up in the country this year. We have over 61 cases recorded so far in this country. Increased population morbidity and over encroachment into forest area makes yellow fever outbreak to be prevalent.

“Nigeria is a high-risk country for yellow fever with 160million people at risk of the disease. The eliminate yellow fever campaign was launched in 2018, Nigeria agreed that by 2026 we want to eradicate what is called the yellow fever. Prevention of international spread and contain of the outbreak, that’s why we are having the campaign.

“This year, it will be implemented in seven states which Ogun state is inclusive. Ogun, Lagos, Gombe. You know people are moving towards the bush and these estates are not in the town. They are close to the bush and these are where you get this type of mosquito we are talking about.”