From Rashidat Suleiman,Minna
Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with the Niger State Government and UNICEF, has announced the rollout of the measles-rubella vaccine under a nationwide supplemental immunization campaign. The exercise will run from October 6 to October 16, with an additional two-day mop-up to ensure no eligible child is missed.
At a media dialogue in Minna, Health Specialist at the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr.Ahmed Tsofo said the campaign will be integrated with other key health interventions, including polio vaccination, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and strengthened routine immunization. In some states, the program will also cover neglected tropical diseases treatment and malaria seasonal chemoprevention.
The campaign targets multiple age groups: children aged nine months to 14 years will receive the measles-rubella vaccine, those from birth to five years will be vaccinated against polio, while girls aged nine years will benefit from the HPV vaccine. According to Dr.Tsofo ,, this integrated strategy is designed to expand access and maximize health impact.
He assured parents and caregivers that the vaccines are safe, effective, and free of charge, and will be delivered through house-to-house teams, temporary posts, and fixed health facilities. He further appealed to families to make their children available and urged the media to play an active role in creating awareness, correcting misinformation, and boosting public trust in immunization.
Niger State alone is targeting more than three million children, with the aim of achieving at least 90 percent coverage. Dr. Sofo stressed that such wide coverage would drastically reduce the risk of outbreaks and strengthen long-term protection against preventable diseases.
Also speaking, Niger state ministry for primary Health care Dr. Fatima Ibrahim said the state government, with support from UNICEF, WHO, GAVI, and other partners, is fully committed to the exercise. She called on parents and caregivers to embrace the campaign and ensure every eligible child is reached.
Dr. Ibrahim expressed optimism that with sustained community involvement, Nigeria will maintain its polio-free status, curb measles outbreaks, prevent rubella infections, and secure a healthier future for children.