Anambra First Lady Launches Measles-Rubella Vaccine Campaign, Urges Massive Children Enrollment

By Praise Chinecherem

Wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs Nonye Soludo has appealed to parents, guardians, school heads and religious leaders to allow children under their care to get vaccinated when the Measles-Rubella vaccination programme is fully rolled out.

Mrs Soludo stated this while inaugurating the Measles-Rubella vaccine introduction advocacy in Anambra State.

According to the governor’s wife, it is important for stakeholders to lead the advocacy, especially within parts of the state where turn out for vaccination is usually low.

“There is a need to first of all correct the false narratives and phobia for vaccines. Those who have children under their care should allow them to take the vaccine. It is safe and very effective,” she stressed.

Mrs Soludo regretted that measles and rubella as highly contagious viral infections have led to unnecessary suffering, complications, and even deaths among children.

“With the introduction of the combined vaccine, there is now a powerful tool to change that narrative — to reduce childhood mortality, prevent long-term disabilities, and secure the health of future generations,” she added.

Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed that the vaccine which would be fully introduced to the State later this year, has been specially designed to eliminate cases of measles and rubella to zero in the state.

While calling for attitudinal change among the people, Obidike said, “it is only when every child within the immunization age bracket receives the vaccine that the diseases can be comprehensively defeated.”

On his part, World Health Organization’s Coordinator in Anambra State, Dr Muhammad Bonos expressed optimism of positive outcome of the programme in view of the state’s excellent history of immunization compliance.

Among stakeholders at the event were local government health coordinators, grassroots mobilizers, wives of local government chairmen and UNICEF representatives.