The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board has rolled out an integrated measles and rubella vaccination campaign to reduce child mortality and curb the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The exercise, which commenced on Saturday, is expected to vaccinate over 4.2 million children across the 23 local government areas of the state.
With support from UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other development partners, the campaign focuses on children between nine months and 14 years in the fight against childhood killer diseases.
Speaking at the flag-off, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Hamza Ibrahim, said the campaign would help reduce the number of “zero-dose” children, those who have never received any form of vaccination, in the state.
He revealed that Kaduna accounts for about 10 percent of the 100 local government areas nationwide battling the zero-dose challenge, with more than 4,000 unvaccinated children identified.
“Even though we are a large number, our progress so far is due to the dedication of community women and the support of development partners in reducing the number of zero-dose children,” Dr. Ibrahim said.
“With UNICEF, WHO, CHAN, CHI, and other partners supporting the state government, we are optimistic about reaching every eligible child,” he added.
Also speaking, the State Health Educator, Yusha’u Isah, said the integrated campaign would tackle several vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, rubella, polio, and diphtheria.
“For now, we have ongoing transmission of diphtheria in more than 19 local governments, while all local governments have reported measles cases this year,” he said.
He explained that the campaign was designed to halt disease transmission and strengthen children’s immunity, adding that arrangements had been made to reach children in hard-to-reach and security-compromised areas, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
“We are collaborating with security agencies, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders to ensure full access and coverage,” Isah stated.
The representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Elizabeth Hassan, assured that the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine is safe, effective, and approved by both NAFDAC and the WHO, noting that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal of eliminating measles and rubella by 2030.
Health authorities have urged parents and guardians to bring all eligible children to vaccination centres and temporary posts across the state, emphasising that the vaccine is free of charge.