By Kalu Idika
Over one point three million children have received Measles Rubella vaccines in Nasarawa State to protect them from being infected by the contagious disease.
The State Immunization Officer, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mr. Abubakar Halilu Awe disclosed this while updating Radio Nigeria on the Measles Rubella vaccination coverage across the State.
Mr. Halilu Awe explained that the State is leading among the twelve implementing States under the Phase 1, Stream One States with 103% MR Coverage representing a total of one million, three hundred and sixty thousand, eight hundred and sixty-nine eligible children from nine months old to fourteen years vaccinated against the measles-Rubella across the state.
He lauded the State taskforce for taking proactive steps to address issues of non compliance in some quarters particularly federal institutions.
“We will use the 2 days mop up period to look at some settlement that were partially covered to ensure that every eligible child gets the vaccine,” He added.
Speaking on the advocacy and communications strategy adopted by the State to achieve its target, the Director, Education, Communication, Advocacy and Social Mobilization, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Ibrahim attributed the overwhelming Measles Rubella vaccination Coverage recorded in the state to the strong political will of the present administration and sustainable engagement with traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders.
“We had serious engagement with critical stakeholders. We used the Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Executive Secretary of Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Permanent Secretary to resolve issues of non compliance in federal institutions like Federal Government college Keffi and Federal Government college, Doma. Their concerns were that they wanted to engage with Parents Teachers Association first so that they can seek their consent before allowing the children to get the vaccines”.
Radio Nigeria visited some fixed posts in schools and worship centers where parents and teachers were seen assisting the health workers in holding their children and wards to enable them to be vaccinated.
Two parents, Mr. Dan Yakubu and Mrs. Esther Okorie told Radio Nigeria that they allowed their children to be vaccinated because of the efficacy and benefits of the vaccination.
A teacher with one of the private schools, Mrs. Esther Eze stated that management of the school sought the consent of the parents before allowing the pupils and students to get the vaccine.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa State has taken delivery of additional doses of vaccines from another State because of stock out and increasing demands for the measles rubella and HPV Vaccines.
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