Abia First Lady Calls Stakeholders for Grassroots Mobilization in Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign
The Wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has commended the doggedness of the state government in ensuring that every child is vaccinated in the state.
Mrs Otti, therefore, has mobilised wives of mayors and community leaders to lead grassroots campaigns across the state in support of the upcoming Measles-Rubella vaccination rollout.
Addressing stakeholders at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Umuahia, Mrs. Otti described vaccine hesitancy as a threat to child survival and urged women in leadership positions to take the lead in sensitizing their communities.
Mrs Otti, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Ahukwa, lamented Nigeria’s low measles vaccine coverage of 60 percent for the first dose and 38 percent for the second compared to global averages of 83 percent and 74 percent respectively.
” Measles and rubella are not just mild childhood illnesses. They are dangerous diseases that can lead to complications such as blindness, pneumonia, brain damage, and even death. But here is the good news—these diseases can be prevented with a simple vaccine. We must take this message to the grassroots. We must ensure that no child in Abia State is left unprotected. ”
While calling on the mayors’ wives to support vaccination activities at the local government level, she disclosed further that the state government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and partners like WHO, UNICEF, and Community Wellness Initiative Nigeria (C-WIN), is retrofitting 200 primary healthcare centres to serve as vaccination sites offering broader maternal and child healthcare.
She tasked the mayors’ wives with five responsibilities which includes mobilising parents for the vaccine flag-off, advocating support from their spouses and stakeholders, supervising local campaigns, intensifying community awareness to reach at least 95 percent coverage, and leading the LGA-level rollout.
“I urge you to mobilize mothers, caregivers, and parents for the flag-off ceremony.
Kindly advocate for support from your husbands, the mayors, traditional rulers, stakeholders, and faith-based organizations in your locality to ensure proper sensitization activities and smooth implementation of this project in your LGAs.”
“You need to participate actively in the monitoring and supervision of the vaccination campaign at the LGA level.
The success of this campaign is in your hands; kindly intensify awareness creation for the Measles-Rubella vaccine introduction and work with me to win first place in the national competition through aggressive sensitization to achieve at least 95% vaccine coverage.” She maintained.
“Lead the campaign activities by flagging them off before full implementation in your respective LGAs.”
The Abia state first lady ,however, applauded the healthcare workers dedication and sacrifice on the frontlines of this battle against preventable diseases, and deeply prayed God to bless the children, communities, and our dear sta
