By: uzorigwe Gloria, Abakalik.
The Wife of Ebonyi Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, on Monday,, flagged off therubella vaccine campaign in the state.
Her Excellence said the campaign which aligns with the broader vision of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and BERWO Foundation, which focuses on improving healthcare access and ensuring no child is left behind, aims to ensure every eligible child in Ebonyi State receives this life-saving vaccine.
At the event, held at the Women Development Center on February 17, 2025, Mrs Nwifuru said it marks a crucial step in the state’s commitment to eliminating measles-rubella.
The wife of the Governor said that measles remains a serious public health threat, causing severe complications such as blindness, pneumonia, brain infections, and even death.
She continues to say that the diseases could be preventable through vaccination.
“Today, we are reaffirming our dedication to eliminating these diseases by ensuring that every eligible child in Ebonyi state receives this life-saving vaccine.
“I urge all parents and caregivers to take advantage of this opportunity and bring their children to the nearest vaccination centers.
“We will continue to invest in immunization programs, primary healthcare services, and other health interventions to safeguard the future of our children.
The Surveillance Officer of the World Health Organisation, Dr Danladi Ndahi stated that the campaign is keying into the immunization agenda of 2030.
“The Idea is just to eliminate measle-rubella and see how we can reach the goal of 2030,” Ndahi said.
In remarks, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, described measles as a highly contagious disease that could be preventable through a vaccine.
Ekuma stated that the campaign and advocacy are in preparation for the forthcoming state-wide measles-rubella immunization in October 2025.
We don’t want any case single case of measles in the state; it is a preventable disease, so why should we allow it to kill our children, Dr Moses said.
The Commissioner of Health and the wife of the governor are championing this advocate in the state for us to achieve 100% prevention. One dangerous thing about this infection is that any child who wasn’t vaccinated can easily distribute it to another. It is good to store vaccines in a portable environment.
The highlight of the event was an awareness road walk to sensitize the people on the mass vaccination campaign and health talks by key resource persons.
In speaking, the BERWO team leader, prof. Nkechi Echiegu said the intake of the vaccine is life-saving, but the people in the villages believe that taking the Vaccine is harmful.
This town hall meeting with the stakeholders, which includes the Ministry of Women Affairs, Education, Environment, Ministry of Spots and Information, including the traditional rulers, has the power to speak and let their people know that the vaccine is not a dangerous thing but a life-saving program. All the LGA council Chairmen are here to enable us to spread out easily. It is a Renew Hope Initiative program from the office of the wife of the president, Senator Remi Tinubu. BERWO team leader lamented.
