By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
Measles outbreak has killed 13 children in Borno State,
the United Nations Children’s Fund has decried.
A statement by Eva Hinds, a Communication Specialist with United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said the Nigeria 2017 Demographic Health Survey,
revealed that only 65 percent of eligible Nigerian children receive their first
dose of measles vaccine every year, lamenting that in Borno, this low coverage
has led to the deaths of at least 13 children in the current measles outbreak.
The statement said in order to tackle the growing
cases of measles, the Nigerian Government is working in collaboration with
UNICEF and WHO.
The statement read in part: “Following a growing number of reported cases of
measles, the Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO), will conduct a
vaccination campaign in Borno to protect 1.7m million children aged 6 months to
10 years against measles.””
The statement disclosed that the campaign will run from 21 – 25 March 2019.
The statement quoting Babagana Adiso, Director of Disease Control in the Borno
State Primary Health Care Agency, said: “Immunization remains one of the most
effective ways to protect children from killer diseases,’ noting that: “This
campaign gives us the opportunity to protect the lives of children at risk of
missing out on routine immunization in Borno.”
It insisted that routine vaccination for children, combined with mass
immunization campaigns, remains a key public health strategy to reduce measles
deaths.
“UNICEF will continue to support the Government of Nigeria to reach every child
with the measles vaccine. I therefore urge everyone to ensure that all eligible
children access the vaccine during the campaign period,” UNICEF Borno Chief of
Field Office Geoffrey Ijumba, was quoted to have said.
Measles remains one of the most contagious infections known to humans and ranks
among the top four childhood killers worldwide.
The statement said measles vaccine will be administered free-of-charge in all
mosques, villages, IDP camps and health facilities, targeting all children
under the age of ten in high-risk areas of Borno, irrespective of their
previous measles vaccination status or history of disease.
It also revealed that the campaign will be implemented in two phases. The first
phase will take place in Maiduguri Metropolitan Local Government Authority
(LGA) in Borno from 21 – 25 March and includes the most affected and at-risk
areas as well as accessible settlements. The second phase, to take place later
in the year, will cover the remaining 12 LGAs.
Also in the statement, the Borno State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Audu Idowu was
quoted to have said: “Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines,
Nigeria accounts for the highest burden of measles globally, with 3.3 million
unimmunized children.”
