Mrs Soludo Begins Measles-Rubella Vaccine Advocacy In Anambra
Anambra State governors wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo has stressed the need for parents, guardians, school heads and religious leaders to allow children under their care to get vaccinated when the Measles-Rubella vaccination programme is fully rolled out.
The governor’s wife stated this while inaugurating the Measles-Rubella vaccine introduction advocacy in Anambra State.
She stressed the need for stakeholders to lead the advocacy, especially in parts of the state where turn out for vaccination is usually low.
Mrs Soludo spoke of the need to first of all, correct the false narratives and phobia for vaccines, and urged those who have children under their care to allow them to take the vaccine as it is safe and very effective.
She further explained that measles and rubella are highly contagious viral infections that have led to unnecessary suffering, complications, and even deaths among children, but noted that with the introduction of this combined vaccine, there is now a powerful tool to change that narrative — to reduce childhood mortality, prevent long-term disabilities, and secure the health of future generations.
Earlier in his speech, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed that the vaccine which would be fully introduced to Anambra State later this year, has been specially designed to eliminate cases of measles and rubella to zero in the state.
He called for change of attitude among the people, explaining that it is only when every child within the immunization age bracket receives the vaccine that the diseases can be comprehensively defeated.
Also speaking, the World Health Organization’s Coordinator in Anambra State, Dr Muhammad Bonos, expressed optimism that with Anambra state’s excellent history of immunization compliance, the programme will achieve positive outcome.
The event attracted local government health coordinators, grassroots mobilizers, wives of local government chairmen, representative of UNICEF, among others.
