By Damilola Origbemisuyi, Akure
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has announced his administration’s target to immunize over 924,119 children aged 9 to 59 months within seven days as part of the ongoing measles vaccination campaign.
To this end, citizens of the state have been called upon to embrace the exercise by making their eligible children and wards available to receive the vaccine.
The Governor spoke during the flag-off ceremony of the integrated measles vaccination campaign at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, the state capital.
The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, described measles as one of the childhood killer diseases that affects mostly children under the age of 5 years, noting that it remains a disease of public health importance.
According to him, Nigeria has the highest global burden of measles outbreaks (at 9,373 cases), with some of these outbreaks recorded in some of our LGAs in the state, noting that measles is a highly contagious disease, which if not promptly treated, could lead to serious complications like blindness, deafness, and even death.
While stating that measles can be prevented by a vaccine, he explained that the measles vaccine reduces mortality in children by over 80 percent, which he considers a crucial public health intervention.
Aiyedatiwa, who noted that the state is prepared for a successful and effective measles vaccination campaign, stated that he has provided the mandatory counterpart funding.
He thanked key players in the state health sector for their support in the fight against disease outbreaks in the state, noting that his administration has prioritized investment in the health sector.
He said “The recent approval I gave for the increase in the entry point of medical doctors employed in Ondo State to level 13 step 2 as applicable among Federal Government doctors, and the necessary adjustment had been made for other doctors already in the employment of Ondo State to reflect this increase in remuneration of our health workers to encourage retention of health workers in Ondo State.”
“I am happy to inform you payments of the salaries of our doctors in line with this adjustment have already been implemented. New doctors and nurses will be resuming at our health facilities both at the primary and secondary systems of Ondo State any moment from now”, he added.