No fewer than 1.5 million children have received the measles and rubella vaccination within the first week of the ongoing statewide immunisation campaign in Enugu State, the government has said.
The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), Dr Ifeyinwa Ani-Ocheku, disclosed this during the official flag-off of the integrated Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
Ani-Ocheku stated that the figure represents about 68 percent of the state’s 2.2 million target population of children aged nine months to 14 years, describing the turnout as unprecedented and reflective of the administration’s commitment to eliminating the diseases.
She characterised the campaign as a historic step towards safeguarding the future of children in the state.
“We are gathered here today not just for a ceremony but for a declaration. We declare that the life of a child in Nsukka is as valuable as the life of a child in New York.
“In Enugu, the health of our children is non-negotiable. We declare zero measles and zero rubella in Enugu State,” she said.
According to her, health workers undertook aggressive community mobilisation, visiting homes, schools, churches and mosques to ensure no eligible child was left out. She added that no serious adverse effects had been recorded since the commencement of the exercise.
Ani-Ocheku explained that measles, which incubates for 10 to 14 days, can result in blindness, deafness, brain swelling and death, while rubella, with an incubation period of 14 to 21 days, poses significant risks including congenital disabilities in unborn children.
“Science has gifted us a vaccine, one shot, double protection. The vaccine is safe and effective, and this success belongs to our communities,” she said.
She commended Governor Peter Mbah for reforms in the health sector, including the transformation of primary healthcare departments into functional Local Government Health Authorities and the timely release of counterpart funding.
Flagging off the campaign earlier, Governor Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described the exercise as a “sacred obligation” of government.
“Our future is not in the roads we build or the industries we attract. Our future is sitting in classrooms, playing in courtyards and lying in cradles across Enugu State. Our future is our children,” he said.
The governor reiterated that health remains central to his administration’s economic strategy, stressing that a sick child cannot learn or grow into a productive adult.
He highlighted reforms such as granting autonomy to Local Government Health Authorities to remove service delivery bottlenecks, sanitising primary healthcare payroll systems, revitalising health training institutions and ensuring access to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
While describing the 68 percent coverage as commendable, the governor urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the remaining days of the campaign to close the immunity gap.
“In vaccination, 68 percent is commendable, but it is not enough. The virus looks for the gaps. Let us find the remaining children. Our goal is simple – zero measles, zero rubella, full protection,” he said.
In goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, and the Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike, called on parents and caregivers to ensure eligible children receive the vaccines before the February 15 deadline.
The two-week vaccination campaign began on February 3 and is scheduled to conclude on February 15.
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