Anambra State is gearing up for a major health drive to vaccinate over 1.1 million children as part of the 2024 Integrated Measles Campaign. The initiative, aimed at curbing the spread of the deadly disease, will run from October 12 to October 18 across all 330 wards in the state’s 21 Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the Zonal Meeting in Enugu ahead of the campaign, Mrs. Uju Onwuegbuzina, State Health Educator for the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, disclosed that the state has received over 1.22 million doses of the measles vaccine. The meeting, themed “Immunisation: A Community Responsibility for a Healthier Future,” was organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
The campaign, which is also set to run in Benue, Enugu, Cross River, and Kogi states, targets children between the ages of 9 to 59 months, regardless of previous vaccination history. Dr. Hilary Ozoh, UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change Specialist, emphasized the critical role of the media in achieving the national target of 95% vaccination coverage. He urged journalists to focus on data-based reporting to educate the public and support the campaign’s success.
Despite preparations, Onwuegbuzina highlighted challenges in reaching security-compromised areas such as Ihiala, Nnewi South, Orumba South, and Ogbaru. In response, she revealed that local residents from these areas would be recruited to assist in the vaccination effort, ensuring that no child is left unprotected.
The campaign will take place in health facilities, community centers, schools, churches, and markets. Onwuegbuzina called on parents and caregivers to bring their children for vaccination, stressing the importance of safeguarding children’s futures against the preventable disease.
The campaign is set to impact millions of lives across the state, and advocacy efforts have already begun, including media engagements and outreach to traditional, religious, and community leaders.
