BENIN CITY: Edo State has recorded a major public health milestone, achieving over 95 percent coverage in the recently concluded Measles–Rubella (MR) immunisation campaign, in a significant stride towards protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The feat underscores the commitment of the Edo State Government, under Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, to safeguard the health and future of children across the state.
The MR vaccination campaign, officially flagged off by Mrs Edesili Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Edo State, witnessed strong community mobilisation and active participation by parents, caregivers and key stakeholders.
Speaking during the exercise, Mrs Anani urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the opportunity to present their children for MR and other routine immunisations, describing vaccines as life-saving tools that shield families and communities from deadly outbreaks. She also cautioned residents against misinformation and rumours surrounding vaccination.
According to her, vaccines undergo rigorous manufacturing, testing and certification processes before being approved for human use, assuring that they are safe and effective in preventing diseases.
The Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr Coulson Osoikhia, explained that the 12-day catch-up campaign would be followed by the integration of the MR vaccine into routine immunisation across health facilities in the state.
He said this would help prevent future outbreaks and sustain high immunity levels among children.
Dr Osoikhia commended Governor Okpebholo for his sustained support in strengthening primary healthcare delivery in Edo State.
He noted that the administration’s interventions include the construction and renovation of health facilities across the three senatorial districts, the upgrade of cold-chain infrastructure, and the recruitment of health workers to advance the health component of the SHINE agenda.
The successful MR campaign highlights Edo State’s growing leadership in immunisation and reflects the collective efforts of health workers, traditional and community leaders, development partners, and parents who ensured that children in both urban and rural communities were reached.
With over 95 percent coverage achieved, Edo State continues to set the pace in advancing universal immunisation and protecting its youngest citizens, reaffirming its resolve that no child is left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.
