By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State government is to conduct an integrated measles vaccination campaign, alongside supplementary immunization activity SIA.
Executive chairman State Primary Health Care Board Dr Rilwanu Mohammed who stated this at a one day media orientation on integrated measles, polio and routine immunization held at the emergency operation center Bauchi.
He said Bauchi State has a recurrent outbreak of measles because of a high rate of missed children during routine immunization.
“This time around the State is integrating the measles vaccination with routine immunization to ensure that every eligible child is reached with the vaccine”.
Dr Rilwanu Mohammed noted that though the State has recorded increase in penta 1 coverage according to NDHS 2023-24, it is still low in the area of maternal and child health.
” Bauchi State has 13 zero dose local government areas as a result of non compliant especially as it relates to penta vaccine, we have a new incentive where a mother is given 1000 naira when she brings her child for immunization and 5000 when the child is fully immunized”.
Incidence manager Emergency operation centre Dr Ahmed Sufayan said accumulated missed children leads to outbreaks.
He said the best way to prevent children dying or getting complications as a result of measles is for them to be vaccinated.
” We have received adequate doses of the measles vaccine and other antigens for the campaign”.
The Bauchi State health educator Rilbadu Mohammed said the vaccination for measles and routine immunization will take place at fixed post that is all health facilities, temporary fixed post while the oral polio immunization will be conducted house to house.
He emphasized that the vaccines are safe and called on care givers to bring their children for the exercise.
The measles vaccination is for all children between 9_ 59 months irrespective of their immunization status.
The campaign will commence Thursday at the thirteen Local government areas with zero dose while the State launch is bill for Saturday 26th and it will last for seven days and there will be mob up for additional two days.
Others who spoke that include the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the World Health Organization called on the media to help raise awareness about the campaign.