The Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has flagged off the follow-up 2023 measles vaccination campaign across the state.
Buni while flagging-off the campaign at the emir of Damaturu’s palace said his administration remained committed towards eliminating vaccine preventable diseases especially among the children.
The governor said measles being one of the six childhood killer diseases that affect children between the ages of nine to fifty nine months in the country will continue to receive the deserving attention by his administration for elimination.
Represented by his deputy Hon Idi Barde Gubana, the governor expressed dismay that globally an estimated 246 die each day from measles and the majority of the deaths occures in Africa.
“The deaths can largely be attributed to wide immunity gaps that exist in Nigeria as nearly 19000 cases of measles are recorded each year with death rates ranging from 1.9 % to 12 .4 % in the country.”
Governor Buni reassured government commitments to promoting healthcare services adding that the sector remains one of the cardinal priorities of his administration in the State.
He commended the federal government and other development partners for working closely with the state ministry of health and primary health care Board in driving the implementation and provision of quality health care services to the people.
The commissioner of Health Dr Mohammad Lawan Gana has while speaking said the measles vaccination campaign will be provided at 720 fixed and temporary fixed posts as well as teams across the state.
“The teams will move from settlement to settlement, remote and hard to reach units and all eligible children are reached within the seven days period.
“The follow up measles vaccination campaign is an opportunity to increase the immunity of children against measles and further reduce the incidence of measles in the state and the country as a whole.”
