From: Ruth Yarnap, Bauchi A Consultant with the UNICEF Field Office Bauchi, Al Amin Barrow has called on the people of Bauchi state to bring out their children for measles and meningitis A vaccination saying that this is the best way to prevent children from dying from the diseases.
Barrow said this at a one day orientation for journalists on the measles and MenA vaccination campaign coming up from November 16 – 23, 2019 in the state.
According him, children under 5 years and those not vaccinated are at increased risk of contracting the diseases, saying that, ” measles is a dangerous disease that kills children as it is contagious and meningitis is also a disease associated with high mortality.”
He stated that for measles, the state is targeting that over 1.2 million children aged 9 to 59 months will be vaccinated while for meningitis A over 1.7 million children aged 1 to 7 years will be vaccinated.
The Consultant said that the disease affects babies, pre-school children and the young, and if not treated can lead to brain damage and hearing loss or disability.
Barrow said the vaccination will run concurrently and that all those eligible, within the age bracket, are to be vaccinated irrespective of previous immunization history.
Speaking also, the Program Manager, Immunization, Dr Jibrin Umar said Meningitis A vaccine is in short supply which is why only children aged 1 to 7 will be vaccinated.
According to him, the idea is to boost their immunity as most mortality and morbidity is within this age group.
He said the orientation was to solicit the media’s support to create awareness of the campaign.
The vaccination involves injectables and will take place at health facilities, fixed posts, schools, motor parks and markets while only trained health workers will be used, Dr Umar stressed.
The vaccinations are free and part of the state’s routine immunization schedule.
