Mrs Helen Mutfwang, Plateau governor’s wife, has rallied stakeholders and grassroots leaders to ensure the successful rollout of a N1 billion Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign targeting two million children across the state.
Mrs Mutfwang said on Wednesday in Jos that there was an urgent need for unified action to protect children from life-threatening diseases.
The governor’s wife highlighted the severe risks of measles, saying that it could lead to blindness, brain damage, and death, and rubella, which causes birth defects and stillbirths in pregnant women.
“We must unite to safeguard our children’s future. This vaccine is safe, free, and a lifeline.
“I call on mothers, community leaders, and traditional institutions to drive awareness ahead of the October campaign,” she said.
She applauded the state and federal governments, health agencies, and partners for their support.
Dr Isah Vatsa, a consultant with the Centre for Well Being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions, who gave a brief presentation on MR, disclosed that N1 billion was required for the initiative.
“This administration has shown rare political will to prioritise child health,” he said.
“The MR vaccine will cover children aged nine months to 15 years,” he said.
Vatsa warned that treating complications like Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which could cause deafness, blindness, and heart defects, would cost families 5,000 times more than prevention.
The consultant praised Mrs Mutfwang for the mobilisation of local government chairmen’s wives, stressing their pivotal role in grassroots trust-building.
He emphasised the importance of community engagement in ensuring the success of the campaign.
Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, said all hands would be on deck to support the campaign in the state.
The Emir of Kanam, Alhaji Muhammad Muhammad, who represented traditional leaders, said they would support the campaign to ensure its success.
“We will help sensitise our people to ensure compliance and also reduce vaccine rejection,“ he assured.
The Executive Secretary, Plateau Primary Healthcare Board, Mr Raymond Juryit, thanked the governor’s wife, the chairmen’s wives and all stakeholders for attending the sensitisation and engagement meeting. (NAN)
