Governor Willie Obiano flagged off the measles vaccine campaign in Anambra state.

The Commissioner for Health Dr Josephat Akabuike, who announced this during a press briefing in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex in Awka, said that the ceremony will take place at Amaokpala in Orumba North Local Government Area.

In line with the Global target to eradicate measles completely, Anambra State will alongside other Southern states, embark on the second phase of the national Fourth Measles follow up.

Measles is an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by district red spots, followed by a rash, occurring primarily in malnourished children less than five years of age and those who live in overcrowded conditions.

According to statistics, Anambra State recorded three hundred and nineteen Measles cases from January to September 2015, which however, defines the goal of the campaign, which is to reduce morbidity and mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases through support for programs that benefit the vulnerable group.

The Commissioner said the campaign is geared towards helping the Ministry to mop-up all those who were not reached during the routine Immunization as well as to have a wider immunization which would help in realizing the world target of 2020.

Dr Akabuike who explained that the measles vaccine efficacy is eighty-five per cent when given at nine months of age, notes that the follow-up campaign which usually comes every two to three years is an opportunity to boost immunity of those who missed out previously.

The health Commissioner urged caregivers and mothers to ensure that their children between the age brackets of nine months to five years irrespective of previous immunization status are brought out at the public health centres and other temporary fixed posts nearest to them for the vaccination.

The permanent secretary in the ministry Dr Okwuchukwu Chukwuka, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on General Hospitals and Chairman Anambra state primary health Care Development Agency, Dr Sunny Ekwunife, the Senior special assistant to the Governor on
General Hospitals, Mrs. Nwamaka Arinze-Okoh, the Director public health and disease Control in the Ministry, Dr Emmanuel Okafor, the Executive Secretary Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Mrs Chioma Ezenyimulu and the European Union support Immunization Governance in Nigeria Officer, Dr Romanus Nwagu, were all present at the briefing.

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