The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) has announced that it will launch a vaccination campaign for children against the deadly Measles Rubella from October 4th to 13th this year.

The Agency’s Executive Director, Dr. Musa Muazu, revealed this at a one-day media orientation forum held for selected media organisations in Lokoja on Monday.

The Executive Director, who was represented by his Deputy Director of Administration, Mallam Musa Bashir, indicated that Measles Rubella, also known as German Measles, targets children between nine months and 14 years.

Dr. Muazu stated that the purpose of the one-day media engagement is to inform journalists about Measles Rubella, thereby promoting effective awareness and educating citizens at the grassroots level about the preventive campaign.

According to the Executive Director, the preventive Measles Rubella vaccination campaign is scheduled to be conducted in the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi state at designated locations such as the palaces of traditional rulers, marketplaces, and motor parks.

“However, after the October campaign on Measles Rubella vaccination, we would now return to our normal immunisation routine”, Dr. Muazu explained.
He then urged parents across the 21 local government areas of the state to ensure their children are available in large numbers for the preventive vaccination against the dreaded disease.

He emphasised that the media partnership would undoubtedly provide adequate publicity, helping to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign.

Dr. Abdulrahman Hudu of UNICEF had earlier briefed participants during the orientation meeting that Measles Rubella is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted through both airborne particles and direct contact.

He explained that Measles Rubella, also called German Measles, differs slightly from normal measles, emphasising that the only effective way to tackle the disease is through preventive measures such as vaccination, since it is not curable.
He further explained that the virus could be controlled through a vaccination that is 95 per cent effective in preventing it.

“Symptoms and hazards of measles or Measles Rubella include: skin rashes, running nose, fever, brain damage, cough, blindness and death”, Dr. Hudu enumerated.
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Mr. Shittu Momoh, State Vaccine Mobilisation Officer, stated that the media has an important role in disseminating information about routine immunisation and urged the participants to take the project very seriously.

He reiterated the commitment of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen health services in the state through advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders and sensitisation of citizens to adopt an attitudinal approach aimed at complementing the government’s efforts to achieve this commendable goal.