Health

Oyo Launches Measles Vaccination Campaign for Under Five Children

Oyo state government has kick – started the administration of measles vaccine to children between 0 and 59 months old.

At the flag off ceremony held at the Salvation Army Primary School, Kube in Ibadan North Local Government Council, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji, explained that the integrated measles campaign was to prevent the airborne disease as dry season is approaching.

Represented by the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Johnson Osoko, Dr. Olatunji asserted that every child within the target age would be covered during the week long exercise.

“Oyo state is proactive and responsible to sustain zero measles status amongst over two million children in the state”, Olatunji stated.

In a remark,the Ibadan North Local Government Medical Officer, Dr Sunday Adewole lauded the Ward Development Committee for the impressive turn out of residents to avail their children of the vaccination against preventable deadly diseases.

Speaking on behalf of Oyo state government partners on vaccination, Dr. Paul Ajayi on behalf of World Health Organisation, WHO, assured that the vaccine is safe, non-reactive and free, encouraging parents to present their children at designated centres for the vaccination.

On his part, chairman, Ibadan North local government, Mr. Oluwaseun Olufade represented by the Supervisory Councillor for Health in the council, Mr. Musa Azeez promised an all time support on health programmes for the well-being of people at the grassroots.

Head of the Ward Development Committee, Ibadan North local government, Alhaji Isa Ayilara, while advising parents to desist from negative attitude towards vaccination as a way of guarding against disease outbreak in their areas promised to intensity awareness all through the vaccination period.

Two among nursing mothers whose children received the vaccination said the vaccine would protect children against diseases, while promising to champion calls to other parents to bring their children for the vaccination.

The exercise among other things included a symbolic administration of measles vaccine on some children by the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji represented by the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr Johnson Osoko and other health officials.

Over a million doses of measles vaccines, immunization cards and syringes have been distributed to the various local government health authority cold stores for the exercise which began today across Oyo State.

Among those present at the flag-off include State Health Educator,SHE, Mr. Samuel Olarinde and UNICEF Consultant in Oyo State, Mr. Samuel Olatunji.

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