Abia Schools Urged To Grant Measles/Rubella Vaccinators Access

Public and private schools in Abia State have been urged to grant health workers access to vaccinate their pupils and students aged between nine months and 14 years against measles and rubella.

The appeal was made ahead of an upcoming measles/rubella vaccination campaign across the 17 local government areas of the state, scheduled to hold from February 4 to 14, with a two-day mop-up exercise.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, made the call while declaring open a one-day sensitisation programme on the campaign in Umuahia, the state capital.

Ubochi said the campaign would be conducted through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency and its partners, stressing that all hands must be on deck to ensure its success.

According to him, the mop-up exercise is part of the administration’s collective effort to protect children in the state against vaccine-preventable diseases, in line with its priority on healthcare.

While assuring that the vaccines are free, safe and effective, he encouraged parents and caregivers to give their consent and present their children and wards for the campaign.

In their separate remarks, the State Health Educator, Chukwudi Ukpabi, and the Desk Officer for Health at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Onyeuwaoma Obinna, assured of their cooperation.

They said the sensitisation programme was organised for already trained health workers by the ministry and commended the Governor, Alex Otti, for his support towards the success of the campaign.