From Awwal Umar Kontagora In Minna
No fewer than 1,146.572 children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years have been targeted for measles vaccination this year in Niger state.
Social and Behavior Change , UNICEF Measles Consultant, Hassan Musa Abari disclosed this during a Stakeholders in Education and Media Roles in the Campaign Against Measles organized by the Niger State Healthcare Development Agency in partnership with the UNICEF held in Minna.
Abari revealed that the campaign program has become necessary sequel to the fact that measles is no longer seasonal as it used to be hence the engagement of the 275; wards of the state in two faces to ensure total coverage.
He noted that schools, designated health facilities and palaces are the major targets for the vaccination where a good number of children can be vaccinated within a short period that would be integrated, however appealed to parents to make their wards available for a successful programme.
The consultant lamented that in Bida local government area and with record in FMC Bida alone 1,347 cases were recorded with 18 death within 8 months this year which called for concern.
He emphasized that the first face will be from 31st October to 7th November while the second face is from 8th to 18th November, 2022 with Agwara, Borgu, Edati, Magama, Kontagora, Mariga, Mashegu, Rafi, Mokwa, Rijau and Wushishi councils as first face.
According to him, the second face local governments include; Chanchaga, Bosso, Paiko, Lapai, Gurara, Suleja, Lavun, Munya, Shiroro, Tafa, Katcha, Bida, Agaie and Gbako respectively.
According to Malam Bala Musa, Director awareness of Primary Health Care, said the state making all afford to insure every will be capture, he said the agency and UNICEF will mobilized security to the places that has security challenges to insure the exercise achieved the target.