The Adamawa State Government has commenced mass vaccination of children against measles and meningitis ‘A’ across the state.
The exercise tagged: “2019 Integrated Measles and Miningistis ‘A’ Vaccination Campaign’’ was launched at a ceremony on Saturday, in Girei, headquarters of Girei Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The Deputy Governor of Adamawa, who is also the Chairman Taskforce on Immunisation, Chief Crowther Seth, urged all stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise.
Seth urged parents and caregivers to avail their children the opportunity to be immunised.
While calling for sustenance of the exercise, the deputy governor lauded the effective role of the media, traditional and religious leaders, in mobilising the public for the vaccination.
He also commended development partners such as WHO, UNICEF, and others, for their support to the state in delivering quality healthcare services.
Seth directed local government chairmen in the state to show serious commitment by attending evening review meetings on the exercise to address any challenges.
In her remarks, the Executive Chairperson of Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Batulu Muhammad, said measles and meningitis were highly contagious and dreaded diseases that needed to be contained with the coming dry season.
Muhammad said the state was targeting more than 800,000 children for measles vaccination and 750,000 children for meningitis in the two-week exercise.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Kennedy Bartimaus, said the ministry had enough doses of vaccines for the exercise; adding that parents needed to know that getting children vaccinated was a right and not a privilege.
Speaking on behalf of development partners, Mr Iyobosa Igbinovia of WHO, lauded Adamawa for embarking on and being part of the mass exercise.
Igbinovia assured the state of sustained support from the partners in areas of healthcare delivery.
In their respective remarks, the Chairman of Girei LGA, Alhaji Mohammed Njidda and the District Head of Girei, Alhaji Ahmed Mustafa, lauded the choice of Girei for the launch and assured their commitment to mobilise for its success.
