The Enugu State Government says more than 1.5 million children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella within one week of the ongoing statewide immunisation campaign.
Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Ocheku, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), disclosed this on Wednesday during the flag-off of the integrated Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
Ani-Ocheku said the figure represents about 68 per cent of the state’s target population of 2.2 million children, describing the turnout as unprecedented and a strong indication of the state’s commitment to eliminating both diseases.
“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 carried out extensive community mobilisation, moving from house to house, as well as visiting schools, churches and mosques to ensure no child was left out. She added that no serious adverse effects had been recorded since the campaign began.
She explained that measles, which incubates for 10 to 14 days, can lead to complications such as blindness, deafness, brain swelling and death, while rubella, with an incubation period of 14 to 21 days, can cause serious 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.
Ani-Ocheku commended Gov. Peter Mbah for reforms in the health sector, including transforming primary healthcare departments into functional Local Government Health Authorities and ensuring timely release of counterpart funding.
Flagging off the campaign, Gov. Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described the vaccination drive 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 noted that health remains central to his administration’s economic strategy, stressing that a sick child cannot grow into an innovator, engineer or leader.
He highlighted reforms such as granting autonomy to local government health authorities to improve service delivery, sanitising primary healthcare payroll systems, revitalising health training institutions, and ensuring access to Basic Health Care Provision Funds.
Mbah urged parents and caregivers to use the remaining days of the campaign to ensure children aged nine months to 14 years receive the vaccines.
“In vaccination, 68 per cent 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, encouraged parents to ensure eligible children are vaccinated before the Feb. 15 deadline.
The two-week campaign, which began on Feb. 3, is scheduled to end on Feb. 15.