Edo State has recorded a remarkable milestone in public health, successfully vaccinating over 95% of the children targeted in the recent Measles-Rubella (MR) immunization campaign. This achievement demonstrates the commitment of the State Government, led by His Excellency Senator Monday Okphebholo, to protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases and ensuring they grow up healthy, resilient, and able to lead purposeful lives.
The Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign, which was flagged off by Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Edo State, was marked by strong community mobilization and widespread participation.
In her remarks, Mrs Anani encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of the opportunity to present their children for the MR and other routine vaccines. She emphasized that vaccines are lifesaving and essential for keeping communities safe, urging citizens to disregard rumors and misinformation. She reassured the public that vaccines undergo rigorous processes of manufacture, testing, and certification before approval for human use, and therefore remain one of the most effective tools for disease prevention.
The Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Coulson Osoikhia, explained that the 12-day catch-up campaign would be followed by the routinization of MR vaccines across health facilities in the State. This measure, he noted, is aimed at minimizing the risk of future outbreaks and sustaining high levels of immunity among children. He further expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okphebholo, for his consistent support in strengthening primary health care delivery.
The Governor’s interventions include the construction and renovation of health facilities across the three senatorial zones, the overhaul of the State’s cold chain infrastructure, and the recruitment of health workers to drive the health component of the SHINE agenda of the government.
The MR campaign highlights Edo State’s leadership in immunization and reflects the collective effort of health workers, community leaders, and parents who worked tirelessly to ensure that children in both urban and rural communities were reached. With this achievement, Edo State continues to set a strong example in advancing universal immunization and safeguarding the health of its youngest citizens ensuring that no child is left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.
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