PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
The Cross River State Government has flagged-off of the 2022 Integrated measles vaccination campaign in Calabar, the state capital.
The campaign which would run from Nov. 3 to 10 would see the introduction of the rotavirus and COVID-19 vaccination.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the rotavirus is a very contagious virus that causes diarrhea and other intestinal symptoms in infants and other young children worldwide.
Flagging-off the campaign, The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ivara Esu, said the issue of immunisation and vaccination were very dear to the state.
Esu said even though measles was a very dangerous disease for children, its seeming increase in occurrence among children was becoming alarming and must be checked.
He said: “Today, people are no longer worried about COVID-19, so, they no longer wear masks or observe social distancing; this is enhancing the spread of preventable diseases that would have easily been prevented.
“We urge parents whose children were from 0 to 5 years of age who have missed this vaccine to come forward and ensure that their wards are vaccinated against measles and diarrhea while adults avail themselves of COVID-19 vaccination.
“This administration attaches 100 per cent attention on the issue of vaccination and immunisation and hopes that residents in the state would do same,” he noted.
In her remarks, Janet Ekpenyong, Director General, Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) said measles was one of the major causes of infant and child mortality.
She noted that this was why every two to four years, they carried-out an integrated measles campaign to bridge the gap in terms of children who missed the routine immunisation.
She also used the opportunity to commend the Federal and state government for the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine.
He said: “Before now, the rotavirus vaccines was a scarce commodity, the only place you could get it was in private health facilities and you have to pay as much as N12,000.
“So, we are excited that the Federal Government has made it possible that every child in Nigeria within the ages of 0 to 5 would be vaccinated not just against measles but against rota virus free of charge.
“For Cross River, we are targeting 700,000 children, we want to achieve 100 per cent coverage, so we have decentralised the process and it be taken place in markets, worship centres and schools to make sure no child is missed.
On his part, Salisu Ibrahim, Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Cross River Government was providing good leadership in the health sector but would could do more with more support.
Ibrahim said while WHO is supporting the state in training healthcare workers and vaccine logistics, other stakeholders should assist the state to enhance it vaccination process.
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