Yobe begins week-long integrated interventions against measles, polio, other NTDs Oct. 18
By Ahmed Abba
The Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board has engaged media practitioners ahead of its integrated measles, rubella, polio, malaria and HIV campaign scheduled for Oct. 18 to Oct. 23 across the state.
Malam Bulama Yaro, the board’s Deputy Health Promotion Officer, disclosed this during the engagement in Damaturu on Friday.
He said that the exercise would deliver multiple interventions to targeted age groups.
Yaro explained that the measles-rubella vaccination would cover children aged nine months to 14 years, while the polio vaccine would target children from birth to 59 months.
According to him, the campaign will also administer the fourth cycle of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) drugs to children between three months and 59 months in two phases.
The first phase, he said, would cover both three months to 11 months, while the second phase would cover 12 months to 59 months categories.
Yaro said neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) interventions, including administration of azithromycin for trachoma, would be carried out in three local government areas, alongside the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination for adolescent girls.
He explained that the campaign would last for five days, with an additional two mop-up days in areas not fully reached.
“Our message to caregivers and parents is to take advantage of this opportunity to present their children for vaccination.
“These interventions are for the health and well-being of our children,” Yaro said.
Also speaking, Mr Benjamin Abata, the State Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, said the integrated approach would ensure efficiency and reduce stress on both health workers and communities.
He listed trachoma, onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis as some of the diseases targeted under the NTD programme, stressing the need for improved sanitation and access to water to sustain control efforts.
He expressed dismay that some communities still practiced open defecation and lack access to clean water.
“Behavioural change, provision of household toilets, and water supply in schools and markets are critical to reducing the spread of these diseases,” Abata said.
Mr Barka Darpi, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Officer, said the introduction of the measles-rubella vaccine was part of efforts to close immunity gaps and reduce the burden of preventable childhood diseases.
According to him, Nigeria accounts for 54 per cent of Africa’s polio burden and ranks second in measles incidence after the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Darpi said the integrated campaign would protect a large cohort of children, interrupt transmission of measles, rubella and polio, strengthen routine immunisation, and reduce inequities in vaccine coverage.
He added that the vaccination would also contribute to preventing congenital rubella syndrome and other complications associated with the diseases.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was attended by journalists from various media organisations and stakeholders in the health sector.
NAN
