FG to commence measles campaign in 19 states

The federal government is expected to carry out the first phase of this year’s measles followup campaign in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) next month.

The campaign is aimed at immunizing children under the age of five years against measles while the second phase would be carried out between January 28, and February 1, 2016.

The immunization Programme, is expected to gulp $45.4 million (N9.9billion) and 39.4million children between the ages of nine months and five years are expected to be immunized during the exercise.

Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA) Dr. Ado Mohammed, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a media round table organized by the agency for health desks of media organisations.

Represented by the Director, AdvocacyandCommunication,Dr Adamu Nuhu, he said the exercise was meant to give opportunity to those who had missed out in previous immunization exercise adding that the media is key in enlightening the populace on tackling measles which is a killer disease of children under five.

Director, Disease Control and Immunization, NPHCDA, Dr. Damaris Onwuka said 12,651 cases of measles was reported in the last one year with 7,535 confirmed.

She said the country had set a target of 95 % immunization coverage in line with the 2020 global measles elimination deadline.