By Akeem Olatidoye
The Kwara State Government has flagged off Integrated Polio-Measles Rubella Vaccines Campaign for October across the 16 local government areas of the State.
Speaking at a one-day Media Dialogue on integrated Polio-Measles Rubella immunization campaign, the Executive secretary of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (KPHCDA) Professor Nusirat Elelu, emphasized the need of the immunisation coverage to protect children from the dangers of measles and rubella.
Elelu, who spoke through the Director Primary Health care Services, Dr Michael Oguntoye, stated that the campaign is critical to safeguarding the children from measles and rubella, diseases that can have serious health consequences
She described the media as playing crucial role in vaccination campaigns in Kwara as journalists assist in promoting positive social norms with respect to vaccination, reducing vaccine hesitancy and eliminating any misinformation.
She, therefore, appealed to the media and the public to help counter vaccine misinformation, which she described as a major threat to immunisation success.
In his remarks, Dr Usman Danlami, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) representative, charged the media to help disseminate the need for wider coverage in vaccinating children across Kwara.
He noted that the media has the tool to counter misinformation, reach wider audience and keep society updated about emerging diseases.
According to him, media plays a vital role in promoting vaccination in Nigeria, and enjoined them on risks communication in eradicating misconception.
In his presentation, Mr Ibrahim Mohammad, the Social Behaviour Specialist of UNICEF, explained that the country has made remarkable progress in the fight against preventable diseases.
He added that Rubella which is also known as German measles, typically causes mild measles-like illness in children and adults and infection of Rubella in early pregnancy can result in severe birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).
