ASABA/Nigeria: The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, has assured that no effort will be spared to take immunization campaign to the grassroots.
Mr Ukah gave the reassurance today when the Board Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Mrs Isioma Okobah, led management staff of the Agency to pay him an advocacy visit.
The Commissioner, who described measles infection as very destructive and deadly ailment, said that every publicity arrangement would be perfected to ensure the success of the forthcoming measles immunization campaign holding in the State from March 1 to 13, 2018.
He stated that the issue of health was important to his Ministry, saying health remained paramount in the present administration of Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and promised to deploy the services of the state electronic and print media outfits to disseminate activities on the measles vaccination to the grassroots dwellers in the State.
According to him, “Making use of the local media might not be effective enough in reaching the rural communities, but I will ensure that the information is taking down to the nook and crannies of the state by going down to the markets, small group gathering and through interpersonal communication”.
He called for regular interface between his Ministry and the Agency alongside its donor partners in the provision of content for the campaign, saying such would enhance the effective monitoring and assessment of success rate before the commence of the vaccination.
The Chairman of the Agency, Dr Mrs Isioma Okobah, told the Commissioner that the visit was to solicit the support of his Ministry towards the success of the vaccination campaign.
Dr Mrs Okobah said that the agency was looking forward to achieving at least 95% success rate for the measles campaign by having access to the state media channels to disseminate information to the people at the grass root level.
While noting that the Ministry of Information was an important stakeholder in enhancing support from the local newspapers, television and radio stations, she called for the utilization of State Information Officers in the 25 local government areas to reach out to people at the grassroots.
The Executive Director of DSPHCDA, Dr Jude Winful-Orike, explained that the mandate of the Agency was develop primary health in the State, saying the planned measles immunization was to catch up with children that were missed previously, adding that the purpose was to be part of effort aimed at eliminating measles from Africa in line with WHO target.
The measles vaccination campaign Consultant, Dr Mrs Lami Davou who is also UNICEF Mobilizer on Communication for Development emphasized on the need to campaign against rumours that immunizations were not safe.
Measles Vaccination Starts March 1
Meanwhile, another round of measles vaccination campaign has been slated to hold from 1st to 13th March, 2018.
The Chairman of the Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Isioma Okobah, disclosed this while briefing the press on the campaign in Asaba.
Dr Okobah stated that the Delta State would join her southern state counterparts in the exercise from the 1st to 13th of March, explaining that the measles vaccination campaign was a national health intervention program conducted every three years.
She urged parents to take advantage of the numerous health services available in health facilities in the State, emphasizing that as the State Government was committed to ensuring quality for healthcare for all Deltans.
The Board Chairman enjoined parents and guardians to avail their children and wards of age bracket nine to 59 months of the vaccination, stressing that the vaccines were safe, free and effective in preventing eight killer diseases, indicating that the measles vaccines prevent children from blindness, deafness, lowered immunity and even death.
The Chairman said that the Agency and donor partners were working assiduously to make the campaign successful and achieve 95% coverage target and would be involved in the pre-implementation, implementation and post implementation activities to enhance the campaign.
The Chairman, Directors and Donor Partners thereafter paid advocacy visit to the Hon. Commissioner for Health to intimate Him of the upcoming campaign.
