From ODIMMEGWA JOHNPETER, Abuja
THE Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Folorunso has revealed that over 39 million children, aged nine months to five years, will be immunized in the 2015 Measles Immunization Campaign, which began Nov. 22 in all nineteen northern states.
Prof. Folorunso, who made this known while flagging off the national immunization campaign in Abuja, stressed that being a signatory to the World Health Assembly treaty, Nigeria is committed to eliminating measles by the year 2020.
Prof. Folorunso noted that in the year 2000, over 523,000 children died from measles which prompted the World Health Assembly to declare the need for intensification of global efforts towards reducing the measles mortality figures.
In response to Assembly’s call, the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency alongside other development partners have declared a follow-up measles immunization campaign across the country.
While flagging off the campaign in Abuja, the minister noted that the campaign will signify the commitment of the government to the elimination of measles by taking health care to the doorsteps of Nigerians.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory who was represented by the Acting Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Odey Achu observed that the campaign will concretize the commitment of the FCT to providing quality health care services to everyone in the nation’s capital.
Representing the World Health Organisation, Philna Bracka pledged WHO’s support and urged stakeholders to strive towards 95% coverage in the campaign. The Measles Campaign exercise began in the 19 northern states on Saturday, Nov. 21 to 25, and will continue in 2016 from 28Jan. to Feb. 1 in all southern states.
Further in his speech, the Minister thanked local and international health partners as well as other stakeholders for their commitment to the course, and urged parents and guardians to endeavor to present children for the exercise.