Enugu State has successfully vaccinated over 1.5 million children against measles and rubella within the first week of its statewide immunization campaign. This figure represents 68% of the 2.2 million children targeted by the initiative.
Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Ocheku, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, announced the achievement during the flag-off ceremony held at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu. She described the campaign as “historic and deliberate,” emphasizing the government’s commitment to achieving zero cases of measles and rubella in the state.
“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. Our goal is zero measles, zero rubella,” Ani-Ocheku stated.
The campaign involves aggressive community mobilization, with health workers visiting homes, schools, churches, and mosques to ensure no child is left unvaccinated. So far, no serious adverse effects have been reported.
Health experts highlighted the importance of vaccination: measles, which incubates for 10–14 days, can cause blindness, deafness, brain swelling, and death. Rubella, with an incubation period of 14–21 days, can lead to severe congenital disabilities in unborn children. Ani-Ocheku noted that the single-shot vaccine provides double protection and is both safe and effective.
Governor Peter Mbah was commended for reforms in the health sector, including autonomy for local government health authorities, timely release of funds, and revitalization of health training institutions. These reforms aim to remove bottlenecks in service delivery and ensure that all children have access to essential immunizations.
The campaign targets children aged 9 months to 14 years, and health officials urged parents to take advantage of the remaining days to close the immunity gap.
“In vaccination, 68% coverage is commendable, but it is not enough. The virus looks for gaps. Let us find the remaining children. Our goal is simple: zero measles, zero rubella, full protection,” the governor said.
The two-week vaccination exercise, which began on February 3, will conclude on February 15. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, and the Chairman of Oji River LGA, Mr. Greg Anyaegbudike, reinforced the message, assuring residents that the vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for safeguarding children’s health.
