Borno to immunize over a million children against measles

OVER a million children between the ages of nine and 59 months are to be immunized against measles by the Ministry of Health in 15 local councils of the state this week.

The immunization, according to health authorities, was inevitable despite the difficult passages to access the children, because of the ongoing insurgency in the North East sub-region of the country.

Speaking at the weekend in Maiduguri, the State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, disclosed that 15 councils will receive measles vaccines to immunize children against the six-killer child diseases in the state.

His words: “As the flag off commences this weekend to Tuesday, November 24, 2015, all the affected 15 Local Government Areas would access these vaccines for our children between the ages of nine and 59 months this week.”

He said that the Borno State government decided to start the vaccination for one of the major child killer diseases very early to stop the threat and outbreaks of measles.

“We are starting this immunization against measles very early to prevent the children from suffering from it. The disease outbreaks around the month of April and May of every year; and the launching of this immunization programme now is timely,” said Mshelia yesterday at the flag off.

The wife of the Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Shettima, who flagged yesterday’s immunization campaign also said: “Measles is indeed a very dangerous disease that kills our young ones every year. It is therefore; our collective responsibility to fight this seven killer diseases to the finish.”

She asked all parents, guardians and caregivers to ensure that their children within the age bracket are availed for this week’s immunization exercise for over one million children.