BENIN CITY-Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday flagged off the 2016 National Measles Campaign in the state with a call on all stakeholders to extend the campaign to all the hamlets in Nigeria for effective awareness among the people.
Governor Oshiomhole said the awareness and immunization exercise should not only be to fight against measles but also against other diseases.
“I am happy that we have made some progress in the immunization against measles and other diseases”, “I believe we should go beyond 81 percent. I believe 100 percent is not a non-realistic target,” he said.
To task all stakeholders, Governor Oshiomhole urged, “Every relevant agencies should take this message to every hamlet. If politicians can get to the hamlets to register people and enlighten voters I see no reason why the immunization can’t reach the hamlets”.
Governor Oshiomhole, who reiterated that the bill on Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency had been signed into law, noted that though Nigeria had been declared polio free, Nigerians should not go to sleep hence the campaign should go beyond measles pointing out that every committed and diligent health worker should be encouraged and that those who did not do what they are supposed to do should be sanctioned.
Hence he stressed that children should be given adequate health especially as they would grow up to become leaders in various fields of endeavour and that children have greater faith in Nigeria them the elderly.
The Commissioner for Health, Edo State Dr. (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie, who explained that this was follow-up campaign scheduled for this year to enhance the well-being of the children, disclosed that the National Measles Campaign is a strategy put in place to reduce mortality and morbidity from measles and it is designed to reinforce the routine immunization exercise which will remain the main strategy of reaching the children.
While assuring that the vaccine is safe and free, Dr. (Mrs.) Eregie urged parents and guardians to keep the children alive by immunizing them against measles as it was the surest way toward ensuring their proper development and good health.
There were goodwill messages from the World Health Organisation (WHO), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Lion’s Club in which they commended Governor Oshiomhole on his commitment to the development health care to people in the state by his commitment to the prevention of diseases.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga disclosed that the flag-off ceremony was happening simultaneously across Edo State adding that Governor Oshiomhole was passionate about health care of the people.
Highpoint of the flag off was the symbolic immunization of a child by the Health Commissioner, Dr. (Mrs.) Aihanuwa in the presence of Governor Oshiomhole who marked the thumb of the child as well as the distribution of treated mosquito nets to the mothers present at the event.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole marks the thumb of a baby after taking her vaccination for measles at the flag-off of Edo State Programme on Measles in partnesrhip with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Wednesday.
