Board to vaccinate 620,000 children against measles

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will vaccinate 620,000 children, between the ages of nine months and five years, against measles disease.

Briefing newsmen on the 2018 measles follow-up campaign scheduled for February 8 - 20 in the FCT, the Ag. Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board (FCT-PHCB), Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, explained that the measles campaign was meant to give children in the FCT full protection against measles.

He said measles is a deadly disease which can lead to complications.

Ashikeni gave assurance that the campaign would achieve 100 per cent coverage, adding that “We are sensitizing, mobilising, educating and ensuring that the people of the FCT admit that immunization is important, it saves lives, and is protective, safe and free in FCT.”

In her remarks, the Secretary of FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Elizabeth Amanda Pam, said the campaign would take place in all the 62 wards of the territory.

Represented by Dr. Bamidele Babade, a director in the secretariat, Pam added that primary healthcare facilities, outreach sites and public hospitals offering routine immunization services would be used as vaccination posts.

She explained that the reasons for the 2018 vaccination campaign were the upsurge in measles cases, particularly in the last quarter of 2016 and first quarter of 2017, as well as poor routine coverage and outbreaks.