Measles, Rubella Vaccination Set to Kick Off in Oyo

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has expressed the readiness of his government to collaborate with the Centre for Well-being Integrated Nutrition Solution (CWINS) towards achieving the total vaccination of children aged 9 months to 15 years in the state against measles and rubella.

The governor stated this on Tuesday, when he received the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, who led the South-West Coordinator of CWINS, Dr Temitope Orji, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi and the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji, on a visit to his office.

The delegation visited the governor shortly after a sensitisation programme to boost awareness and uptake of vaccines to prevent measles and rubella, especially among children, held at the Local Government Staff Training Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Governor Makinde maintained that the state government would pay the counterpart fund towards making the vaccination a success, while he also encouraged parents to cooperate with the field workers when they go out to administer the vaccines.

He said: “This administration is focused on health, education, expansion of our economy, and security. But health is a major focus for us, and we know that people go around and make millions, but the moment you have health challenges, all of those things pale into insignificance

“You will leave your millions and you will be chasing how to get your health back. So, anything health; we don’t joke with it.

“Let me say thank you to my wife for leading this advocacy and for coming to press me here in the office to support this project. Let me also use this opportunity to say thank you to our partners, UNICEF, WHO, and also the local government for being a part of this. At the state level, we can only do so much, but if you have the local government pitching in, we are likely going to reach the people that we want to reach at the grassroots level.

“So, I want to use this opportunity to encourage parents to cooperate with the field workers when they go out there to administer the vaccines. And, for Oyo State, I don’t know where it is coming from, whether from Dr. Olatunji or from the Commissioner for Health; bring the file for the counterpart funding and I will sign it and I will ensure that we also press the finance to ensure that the funding is there immediately.

“I am saying before everybody that you have 100 per cent support from the state government. And, I want to encourage the workers, the field workers, the people that are going to the field; they shouldn’t be tired of our people.

“Please be patient with our people. Encourage them and also be gentle in passing the information.”

Also speaking, Mrs Makinde said Oyo is one of the six states selected for the intervention, noting that she was determined to give her best towards ensuring that the programme is a success.

She appreciated the governor for supporting the programming, noting he has always shown ample interest in the health and well-beign of Oyo State residents.

She said: “I want to appreciate all the members here, CWINS representatives, the commissioner, the health workers, the United Nations and all of you here.

“I want to say thank you for joining me in support of this move, because Oyo State is chosen among six states. So, that’s why I want to give it my best, and I want to say thank you for supporting me.

“I know that the governor will not do less. So, in anticipation of his support, I want to say thank you to my darling husband, our dear governor, lover of the people of Oyo State and their health. I want to say thank you in advance for your support of this vaccination for measles and rubella.

“And, to everyone, thank you for the time and the commitment I hope and believe you will give to this cause.”

Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ajetunmobi, said the visit was for an agenda against measles and rubella, saying: “Your Excellency, we know well that part of your agenda is health and you want Oyo State to be free of all these diseases.

“I am sure you remember that during EXCO meetings, when I make presentations on infectious diseases, one disease is constant that I usually report, and that is measles.

“So, we are here today for the launch of this measles and rubella vaccine in Oyo State. Measles has been there; even the vaccine has been there since the 1960s. But we realise that awareness is low, and a lot of people are not getting the vaccine as they should get it. In order to prevent all these vaccine-preventable diseases, we are here again for the campaign.

“We know that complications of measles could result in blindness and even the complications of rubella, which cut across congenital blindness, congenital deafness, heart disease, patient-doctor arteriosclerosis, cognitive retardation, mental retardation, and children becoming burden to the families that have them, particularly if their mothers are infected or they contracted disease during pregnancy.

“So, we are here for the launch of this campaign, and we can see the powerful dedication that Her Excellency is putting into this. One thing that we are saying is that vaccines are safe, vaccines save lives, and that every child’s life counts in Oyo State.”

The South-West Coordinator of CWINS, Orji, maintained that the campaign will be launched in October 2025, noting that the initiative already has support from the international community.

OYONEWS