The Advocacy Project for the Introduction of the Measles-Rubella Vaccine has been flagged off in Benue State.
Speaking during the flag off which held Tuesday in the Old Banquet Hall of Government House, Makurdi, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia described the event as a welcome development saying the vaccine will go long way in ensuring that measles’ related deaths are reduced to the barest minimum.
The Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Denen Aondona, said prevention is a key component in ensuring a healthy people which he noted is very important in building a thriving economy.
Governor Alia who reemphasized his administration’s readiness to ensure that Benue people have access to quality health care services disclosed that over ninety Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state are already being revitalized for optimum service delivery.
While assuring that the state government will avail the necessary support towards the success of the Advocacy Programme, Governor Alia charged Local Government Councils’ Chairmen, their wives and all relevant stakeholders to put in their best in the exercise towards ensuring its success.
Also speaking, the North Central Consultant for the Advocacy Campaign for the Measles-Rubella Vaccine, Dr Isa Yahaya Vatsa stressed the need to ensure that the campaign is taken to all the nooks and crannies of Benue, particularly to people at the grassroots as this will prepare them to take advantage of the vaccine which will be launched in October later this year.
Dr. Vatsa who explained that the Measles-Rubella Vaccine is very safe and is to be administered on children aged from nine months to fifteen years further said it can also be taken by women within child bearing age in order to protect their unborn children from the virus. He however warned that it should not be administered on pregnant women.
While noting that the Measles-Rubella Vaccine is very expensive, Dr. Vatsa commended Governor Alia for providing funds to make it free of charge and urged Benue people to take advantage of the opportunity as the virus is highly contagious and causes development delay, hearing impairment, blindness, Atrial Septa Defect (hole in the heart) and even death.
He therefore expressed delight over the turn out of major stakeholders for the flag off and called for commitment.
In their separate remarks, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Beatrice Tsavmbu, the Executive Secretary, Benue State Primary Healthcare Board, Mrs Grace Ashi Wende, the State Woman Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs Helen Agagbe as well as the wife of the Majority Leader, Benue State House of Assembly, Mrs Doooshima Tiseer among others, commended the Benue State Governor for his efforts at repositioning the health sector and assured that all relevant organisations and stakeholders are ready to play their various roles towards ensuring the success of the advocacy programme.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Alia on Women Affairs, Mrs Scholastica Ben-Sor who is the State Coordinator, Advocacy Campaign for the Measles-Rubella Vaccine, said the Advocacy Programme became necessary in order to create awareness to change the people’s ideologies resulting from negative stereotypes associated with vaccines mostly due to ignorance and illiteracy.
She further expressed hope that by October this year when the Measles-Rubella Vaccine will be fully launched, the Benue people will be adequately informed on the need to present themselves as well as their children and wards to be vaccinated.
During the flag off, a detailed presentation on Measles and Rubella was made by the Executive Secretary, Benue State Health Management Board, Dr. Benjamin Onoja.
