The Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde has called on parents to ensure that their children get vaccinated against Measles-Rubella.
Mrs Makinde made the call at the flag off of Measles-Rubella Vaccination at Ibadan North East Local Government Area Secretariat, Iwo Road, Ibadan.
Represented by the Chairman, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Mr Dada Awoleye, Mrs Makinde explained that measles – rubella are vaccine-preventable diseases that continue to threaten the lives of children, especially in communities with low immunisation coverage.
Mrs Makinde, who said the disease had led to infant mortality, pointed out that the vaccine is free and has lifelong protection on children.
Mrs Makinde also reiterated the state government’s commitment to delivering more adequate quality healthcare to the people, while affirming that more healthcare workers had been recruited to administer the vaccine to children at the grassroots.
Earlier, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Kehinde Ayinde, noted that children aged 9 months to 14 years are to receive the measles-rubella vaccine.
He advised Nigerians to debunk any misconception, explaining that the vaccine had been certified safe by health partners, WHO and UNICEF.
Earlier, a director at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Victoria Adebiyi, noted that the exercise would last for ten days, with visits to schools, places of worship and communities, before it would be integrated into the routine immunization schedule.
