By Grace Ben Kato
As part of efforts to protect children against measles in kogi state, Government is set to immunise 948, 839 children.
The State Health Educator, Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Mr Momoh Shittu, disclosed this at a one-day Media Orientation meeting in Enugu recently.
According to him, the forthcoming 2024 Integrated Measles campaign vaccination, which is safe and highly effective, will be administered to children age 9 to 59 months across the 239 wards in the 21 local government areas of the state.
Giving the statistics of the measles campaign, KSPHCDA, he said, has so far received its first batch of 801, 800 doses of the vaccine, while it awaits the second batch for the 2024 Integrated Measles campaign that will commence from 26th October to lst November, 2024.
To ensure no child is left unimmunised, the agency, he added, is working with Religious leaders, Traditional rulers and other stakeholders. Saying services of health workers in security compromised areas in the state will also be engaged.
Speaking at the meeting organised by UNICEF and the National Orientation Agency in Enugu, the Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, UNICEF, Dr Hilary Ozoh, urged the media as partners and powerful influencers, to educate, enlighten and disseminate key messages on the measles campaign in their reportage.
Ozoh, who said measles is one of the leading causes of death among children, added that measles could cause blindness and reduce a child’s ability to fight other diseases resulting in frequent illness.
The media meeting for the 2024 Integrated Measles campaign with the theme: Immunisation: A Community Responsibility for a Healthier Future”, will be implemented in Anambra, Benue, Enugu, Cross River and Kogi states respectively.
