UNICEF has raised an alarm about the threat that measles pose in Nigeria after the country was ranked number one with the highest children un-immunised against measles coming after India.
In a presentation: “Overview of 2017/2018 measles follow-up SIA” at a media orientation for journalists in Lagos state, which held in Lagos on Monday, Dr. Charles Nwosisi, Health Specialist, UNICEF, said that Nigeria ranked number one for being the most unimmunised for measles vaccine first dose with 3.3 million children as compared to India with 2.9 children. Nwosisi said that Nigeria is also 192 out of 200 countries in global ranking for measles vaccination coverage.
According to him, measles vaccination coverage in 2016 was below the 95 per cent coverage target as Nigeria met 51 percent coverage.
This is coming as the Lagos State Government on Monday similarly, disclosed that it planned to achieve 95 per cent target in the 2018 Mass Measles Campaign to protect enough children so as to reduce the burden of the disease.
The Lagos Measles Vaccination Campaign which started yesterday, March 15 is scheduled to end on March 29, 2018 in all health facilities in the state and designated posts in communities. Dr. Iyabo Aare, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board disclosed this during a Media Orientation Programme on Measles on Monday in Lagos.
She said that during the previously measles campaign in 2015, the state met 86.2 per cent out of the 95 per cent coverage target. According to her, the state could not achieve optimal coverage due to some resistant groups including churches , mosques and estates where vaccinators were not allowed to vaccinate children within the area. ‘’This campaign is in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Primary Healthcare Board Development Agency and other partners.
‘’This campaign is very important for our children to protect them from this killer disease to secure them because they are our future,’’ she said.
Dr.Olubunmi Akinlade, Immunisation Programme Officer , Lagos State, described measles as a dangerous disease caused by a virus and one of the leading causes of death among young children.
Akinlade said that measles could cause blindness, death and reduce a child’s ability to fight other diseases resulting in frequent illness.
‘’When a child shows signs of measles such as high fever, redness of eyes, running nose and rash; take the child to the nearest health facility immediately,” she said. Mrs. Modupe Owojuyebi, Director, Health Education, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, said it was important for children to receive measles immunisation during the campaign to be fully protected against measles.