Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, on Thursday, flagged-off 2024 Integrated Measles Vaccination Campaign in Delta.
At the occasion which took place in Asaba, the deputy governor said that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori -led government is committed to the revitalization of Primary Health Care Centers in the state to provide quality health care services through a 24-hour circle.
According to him, a good number of PHC Centers have been ear-marked for the initial phase and other existing PHC Centers would be reached as government embarks on the project.
Onyeme who disclosed that government is committed towards the protection of children against measles noted that, measles vaccination campaign is informed by the fact that Measles outbreak remains a persistent challenge due to general low vaccination coverage, misinformation, and barriers of access to health care services.
“We are called upon to reverse this trend and ensure that the primary objective of this campaign which is to achieve a high immunity in the population of Delta State.
“Knowing that measles disease is still with us and that it affects, especially, our children who are less than 59 months (5 years of age) causing high morbidity and mortality, we must protect them.
“They are our future and the future of a greater Delta State.
“In our commitment as a responsible government, let me remind Deltans that the government is already implementing the Abuja Commitments on Primary Health Care which is the bed-rock of a viable Health Care System,” the deputy governor said.
Onyeme who is also the Chairman, Task Force on Primary Health Care/ Immunisation in the state, added that government doors are open to a realistic and a result oriented public-private partnership and communities collaboration.
According to him, the various collective efforts over the years have worn the country Nigeria Measles Elimination status and called for sustained efforts.
The deputy governor enjoined all Deltans to enrol in the established State Health Insurance Scheme so that they can benefit from the subsidized quality Health Care, noting that it was aside the existing Free Care of the Pregnant Women and Free Care for the Under 5.
He stated, “let all Deltans: Leaders of thought, Traditional and Religious, Political, Corporate bodies, institutions of learning and training, parents and guardians open their doors and embrace the Vaccination of their Children and Wards 9 to 59 Months of age from the 5th to 11th of October, 2024 against the Measles Disease.”
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Heath, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mrs Philomena Okeowo, noted that, measles disease is contagious and still a Public Health concern with sporadic outbreaks that affect, especially, children between 9 months to 59 months of age.
Dr. Onojaeme said, measles untoward signs and symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, feeling of being unwell, Coryza, cough, conjunctivitis. Blindness and or death could be a sad end when the disease is not contained.
The commissioner noted that, Delta State In recent years made significant strides in curbing the menace of the disease with ongoing routine vaccination coverage in the Health Care facilities across the State, adding that, for the Supplemental Vaccination Campaigns, the State had 113 percent in 2022 and expects to attain over 100 percent in this campaign.
In a good will message, a representative of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Mrs Faith Ireye, urged mothers to ensure that every child who falls within the age bracket gets vaccinated in order to ensure that the children are shielded from the disease that threatenes their existence.
