Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu who is the Wife of the Lagos State Governor has on Thursday flagged off the 2022 Integrated Measles Vaccination Campaign in Lagos State in line with the new health implementations which were inagurated by the Lagos State Government.
The vaccination campaign has been billed to run from Friday, June 17 and end Monday, July 4, 2022 across the state.
Flagging off the campaign at the Kosofe Local Government, Ogudu, Lagos, the first lady reiterated that measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease caused by the measles virus and that it is a disease of public health importance that usually affects children younger than the age of 5 years.
Read Also: COVID-19: Gov. Ganduje Flags Off Mass Vaccination Exercise
Sanwo-Olu said affected children developed a high fever, cough, runny nose, redness of the eyes, and a rash that appeared all over the body. and that if not prevented or promptly treated, measles could lead to blindness or death.
“Nigeria currently has the highest global burden of measles outbreaks and there have been several outbreaks in some of our LGAs in Lagos State.
“The measles virus is spread through coughing and sneezing from close personal contact or direct contact with infected persons. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children can become infected in creches and schools which is why it is important to protect our children from the virus.
“The measles vaccine reduces mortality in children by over 80% which makes it a very crucial public health intervention, however, only 85% of children who receive the first dose of the measles vaccine may be protected, thereby bringing about the clear need to revaccinate and protect the remaining unprotected 15% of children,” she stated.
The First Lady said the campaign would be conducted for eight days each in two streams to maximize resources and ensure that government reached all the eligible populations during these periods and that there would be 10 participating LGAs per stream.
“The first stream will commence on the 17th to 24th of June 2022 and the participating LGAs are Agege, Ajeromi, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ibeju, Kosofe, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Surulere.
“The second stream will start on the 27th of June and run till the 4th of July in the following remaining 10 LGAs – Apapa, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, Ojo and Somolu.
“A total of 1,800 vaccination teams will be available per stream across the LGAs and LCDAs and the teams will be providing the services mentioned above (i.e measles vaccination with vitamin A supplements, routine immunization, and covid vaccination) from fixed and temporary fixed posts that includes public and selected private hospitals, schools, clinics in religious houses and houses of influential community leaders all in a bid to reach the eligible population and achieve a 100% coverage,” he explained.
Sanwo-Olu encouraged all local government stakeholders, especially the chairmen that all hands must be on deck to ensure a successful outcome in the State across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.