OYO State government had charged parents to ensure that their children receive measles vaccine, warning that the infection can cause blindness, deafness and even death in children not immunised.
Acting Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Lanre Abass speaking at a media parley to herald the 2018 measles vaccination in the state on Wednesday, said measles can only be prevented through vaccination.
Dr Abass, speaking through the State’s Health Educator, Mr Olaoye Olarinde, said children that are not vaccinated are most at risk of contracting this childhood killer disease.
According to him, “when a child has measles, its complications are unlimited. When the eye is affected, it can lead to blindness. An inflammation of the eardrum as a result of the infection can prone to deafness.”
The free measles vaccination exercise is expected to take place between 8th of March and 20th of March, 2018 at all primary health care centres and designated places, he said it was to ensure that no child between nine months and 58 months of age is left unprotected against the disease.
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He assured that children that have previously taken measles vaccination are still expected to take another dose, adding that it was safe and aimed at further boosting their immunity against the infection.
Dr Abass, who dispel the rumour that vaccination is not safe, said children are also protected from other diseases such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, yellow fever, polio and hepatitis through vaccination.
He assured that logistics have been put in place to ensure hard to reach places in the state are also covered, adding that any single child left unvaccinated is a health risk to other children in the community.
Communication for Development, Measles Vaccine Consultant, UNICEF, Hajia Risikat Giwa said that security operates, community leaders and local government officers are to be co-opted to ensure that children in the seven LGAs envisage for herdsmen attack are also vaccinated.
The vaccination exercise will take place in two phases, she said was part of efforts by government and its partners to ensure that Nigeria can be certified free of measles come the year 2020.
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