The wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori has flagged off the Measles-Rubella Vaccine (MRV) Advocacy Rollout in the state.
The event which was in partnership with the Governors’ Spouses Forum, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other donor agencies took place at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
Deaconess Oborevwori said the importance of the advocacy was to increase vaccine access and acceptability, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, and ensure a reduction in children suffering from measles, rubella and related complications.
“The MORE Agenda, under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, is committed to the well-being of all Deltans, ensuring that childhood diseases and child mortality are reduced to the barest minimum through effective immunisation.
”Every parent and caregiver must take advantage of these vaccination services provided. It is the right of every child to be vaccinated and safe from vaccine-preventable diseases. The vaccines are safe and effective, save lives and are administered free-of-charge,’’ she said.
She called on stakeholders to champion the immunisation project in their local government areas, provide the needed logistics and support for the exercise, even as she appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and other opinion leaders to be at the forefront of the campaign to make the exercise a success.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, noted that measles and rubella were highly infectious, viral diseases transmitted through respiratory droplets, stressing that measles can result in serious complications such as pneumonia and even death.
Onojaeme said the vaccine would curb the morbidity and mortality related to measles and rubella diseases, even as he thanked the state and federal government for ensuring the health security of Deltans.
While dismissing all myths related to vaccine acceptance, he said officials of the state and federal governments would be doing the immunisation across the 441 health centres in the state,
Highlight of the event were the goodwill messages from representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and other partners.
Present at the event were the wife of the Deputy Governor, Ezinne Catherine Onyeme; members of the State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, religious bodies, Vice Chairmen of Local Government Councils, wives of Local Government Chairmen, Political Appointees, top government functionaries and also market men and women.
