Wife of Plateau State Governor, Mrs. Regina Lalong, has
challenged women in Plateau State to avail their children for
immunisation against measles.
Mrs. Lalong lamented the increasing statistic of unvaccinated
children in the country and admonished women to take campaign against
the killer disease serious.
The governor’s wife disclosed this, on Wednesday, during the
flag-off of National Measles Vaccination campaign, at SDA Primary
School, Laranto, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
She was accompanied by wife of the Deputy Governor, Abigail Tyoden,
and Veronica Pwajok, Wife of member representing Jos South/Jos East in
the House of Representatives. Mrs. Lalong said the present campaign was
to avert children from being crippled, blind and mentally retarded.
She lamented the pathetic condition of children living with
disability and caution parents on the habit of denying children access
to immunisation on the bases of cultural and other believes.
Her words, “I appreciate the Federal Government for the drastic
measures it has taken to ensure that Nigeria is polio free. The campaign
against measles is a collective one, parents who have children living
with disability will attest to the fact that taking care of such special
children is not an easy task.
“It is based on this that I am challenging all women in Plateau to
make their children available for this vaccination. You should ensure
that your children are vaccinated and recorded in the hand care as
evidence because it is our responsibility to take care of them.”
Executive Secretary of Primary Healthcare Board, Plateau State, Dr.
Miapkwap Livinus, vowed to sanction school that denied children access
to the vaccine.
“We will not take it likely with schools that refused to accept this
vaccine, it is safe for the children and they should be allow to take it
in the interest of healthy living and fight against measles in
Nigeria.”
Coordinator of World Health Organisation (WHO), Plateau State, Mr.
Williams Bassi Wadzingi, said Nigeria accounted for the highest burden
of measles globally with 3.3 million unimmunised children.
“Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children
especially those under five years of age. Despite the availability of
safe and effective vaccines, Nigeria accounts for the highest burden of
measles globally with 3.3 million unimmunised children followed by India
with 2.9 million.
“Due to persistently low routine immunization coverage, supplemental
immunisation campaigns are conducted to provide a second opportunity to
reach unimmunised children. WHO and partners are in full support of the
government efforts to achieve measles elimination in Nigeria.”