Kaduna launches integrated vaccination campaign against Measles, Rubella, other diseases

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board has launched an integrated vaccination campaign targeting over 4.2 million children across the state’s 23 local government areas.
This initiative, supported by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other development partners, aims to immunize children aged nine months to 14 years against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Hamza Ibrahim, the Director of Disease Control and Immunization, emphasized the importance of this campaign in reducing the number of “zero-dose” children in the state.
Kaduna accounts for about 10% of the 100 local government areas nationwide facing the zero-dose challenge, with over 4,000 unvaccinated children identified in the state.
Dr. Ibrahim expressed optimism that, with the support of development partners, the state can reach every eligible child.
Yusha’u Isah, the State Health Educator, explained that the integrated campaign will address several vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, rubella, polio, and diphtheria.
The goal is to stop the transmission of these diseases and boost children’s immunity.
Isah noted that arrangements have been made to reach children in hard-to-access areas and those in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.