The Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State has intensified efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases with the rollout of an expanded immunisation programme covering measles, rubella and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
The Local government Health educator, Dr. Augustine Bankole , disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting on the forthcoming Measles–Rubella vaccination and other integrated health services, at the Primary Health Centre within the Local government Secretariat in Ota, where he emphasised the importance of timely vaccination in safeguarding children’s health and strengthening community immunity.
According to Dr. Bankole, the Measles–Rubella vaccination happened to be a priority concern for the World Health Organization (WHO), the Federal government, State governments and local governments.
He revealed that the vaccination exercise will commence from January 20 to 31, with possibilities of additional days set aside for mop-up activities.
“Ogun State is targeting about three million children for this vaccination exercise,” he said.
Dr. Bankole noted that the programme would provide routine immunisation for children aged 0–23 months, while the Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccine would be administered to children between nine months and 14 years. He added that the HPV vaccine would be given to girls of nine years old as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer, noting that, the exercise would covers children from birth to 14 years across the local government area.
He further explained that measles often start infecting from the eyes, while rubella would commonly infect around the neck area, He therefore reassured parents and caregivers of effective monitoring.
Dr. Bankole stated that the vaccines were safe, effective and approved, stressing that immunisation remained one of the most reliable and cost-effective public health interventions, just as he added that the vaccines would be available at various Primary Health Centres across the local government.
Earlier in his remarks, Medical Officer of Health, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Dr. Jelili Bakare welcomed stakeholders to the meeting on behalf of the Local government Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Lawal, urging all stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign.
Speaking on community participation, the representative of the Community Development Association (CDA) and former Local government Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Kayode Idowu-Ojumo, commended the initiative and pledged strong grassroots support. He said the Local Council Development Area (LCDA) would go the extra mile in creating awareness and enlightenment to mobilise more residents to benefit from the programme.
