Home / Health / Borno state government flags off vaccination against measles
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State

Borno state government flags off vaccination against measles

BY ABDULLAH ISAH, MAIDUGURI

The Borno State Ministry of Health in collaboration with State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) and other Health Development Partners on Friday flagged off the 2015 National Measles Campaign targeted at about one million children.

This Borno state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia who disclosed this during the flagging off of the programme which took place at the General Mamman Shuwa Memorial Hospital in Maiduguri, the state capital, said that due to the natural condition of the state, in which measles becomes pronounced in the months of March to May every year, the ministry in collaboration with SPHCDA, UNICEF and other development partners have embarked on the vaccination/immunization of children between nine months and five years in 15 selected Local Government Areas of the state.

He said that with the commitment of Governor Kashim Shettima towards revamping the health sector, 13 General Hospitals have been renovated and equipped across the three senatorial Districts of the state, in addition to free maternal care and distribution of 2.1 million mosquito nets in order to safeguard people against deadly malaria.

While flagging-off the programme, the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Nana Shettima, said measles which is a dangerous disease that kills children every year is worrisome and, therefore, urged parents, gaurdians and caregivers to ensure that their children between nine months and five years are fully vaccinated during the campaign period.

Mrs Shettima called on all the wives of Local Government Chairmen, Commissioners, State Assembly Members and other major stakeholders to set the pace by leading the campaign to success in their respective communities.

Hajiya Nana commended the efforts of the development partners, particularly NPHCDA, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA among others for their support towards eradicating deadly diseases in the state.

Also speaking, UNICEF representative in Borno, Dr Franck Ndaie said the exercise which will take place in 15 local government areas is to serve as a catch-up campaign aimed at covering more than 90 per cent of the targeted children, and it offers a second opportunity to susceptible group, ad fund was honoured to participate in the campaign.

He said the campaign presented a good opportunity to increase community awareness of the benefit of immunization against measles, pointing out that almost all non-immune children contract measles if exposed to the virus.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State

About Global Patriot Staff

Check Also

Bridging energy access gap vital for Nigeria’s economic growth, says NNPC Chief

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has emphasized the critical importance of bridging …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *