Wife of the Kwara Governor, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has tasked wives of local government chairmen in the state to raise more awareness on the need for vaccination against measles and rubella and other health conditions at the grassroots.

Mrs AbdulRazaq gave the charge at a sensitisation programme held in Ilorin on Wednesday for wives of council chairmen on measles and rubella vaccines.

The governor’s wife, who doubles as the Chairperson of the Nigeria Governor’s Spouses Forum, said the initiative aimed at raising the public awareness on the need to present children and wards between ages nine months and 15 years for vaccination

The nationwide vaccination against measles and rubella will begin in October to eliminate the diseases in society.

She also encouraged the spouses of local government chairmen to propagate advocacies on other health issues, including, healthy nutrition and routine immunisation, among others.

“While rubella infections during pregnancy continue to pose a serious but preventable threat to the health of newborns across Nigeria, it is expedient however, that practicable measures be taken to eliminate the diseases. Hence, the need for engagements such as this to equip you as wives of local government chairmen with necessary information on the measles-rubella vaccine to disseminate among the people at the grassroots, as well as dispel unfounded claims before the roll out scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year 2025,” Ms AbdulRazaq said.

In her address, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, said that measles remains one of the most contagious and fatal viral diseases affecting young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and highly effective vaccine.

Ms Elelu said that between 2000 and 2023, measles vaccination alone averted over 60 million deaths globally, noting, however, that the disease remained endemic in many developing countries, particularly across parts of Africa and Asia, where weak health systems and limited access to quality immunization services persist.

She said that rubella, commonly referred to as German measles, though often mild in children, poses a serious risk to pregnant women, especially in the first trimester, leading to devastating consequences such as miscarriage, foetal death, or the birth of infants with congenital rubella deformities.

She called on residents of Kwara, through their respective local government areas, to collectively champion the cause to protect every child from the devastating effects of measles and rubella.

Ms Elelu said that Kwara has a legacy of successful vaccine introductions and health interventions, largely due to the visionary leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whose support for the health sector continues to yield positive outcomes.

“As an agency, the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA) in partnership with our development allies, remains steadfast in our commitment to the successful rollout of this vaccine and indeed, all health interventions aimed at reducing preventable morbidity and mortality in our dear state,” Ms Elelu said.

The Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya, who represented traditional rulers in the state, said it was important to pass the message to the grassroots.

Mr Yahaya assured that the traditional institution would lead in the advocacy, not only on measles and rubella vaccines, but other immunizations to improve mother and child health.

The state Chairperson of Wives of Local Government Chairmen, Zainab Abubakar, pledged to mobilise so that the targeted group would be vaccinated.

“We ask for support from our men, and key stakeholders to checkmate the negative effects of measles and rubella. We appreciate the governor’s wife for her timely health intervention, and we pray that God will continue to bless her and the governor,” she said.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with development partners, is introducing the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine into the national schedule administered as a single combined dose.

The participants were drawn from women and youth groups, religious organisations and the traditional institution.

(NAN)