The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has expanded its immunisation campaign by taking vaccine services directly to churches, mosques and markets.
The agency said the initiative aims to raise awareness and mobilise Nigerians for the ongoing Integrated Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign across 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It said the campaign aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to achieving universal immunisation coverage and reducing child mortality by interrupting measles transmission, eliminating rubella and protecting over 100 million children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The effort also supports the national goal of achieving at least 95 per cent coverage for routine immunisations by 2026, in line with the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme.
Speaking to journalists, Dr Garba Rufai, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at NPHCDA, said the sensitisation formed part of a broader effort to strengthen vaccination coverage and promote community ownership of public health programmes.
“This is what we call a health walk, part of our awareness campaign for the ongoing Measles-Rubella Integrated Campaign currently taking place in 11 states and the FCT,” he said.
Rufai added that the campaign targets children aged 0 to 14 years, who receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine, polio vaccine, HPV vaccine for girls aged nine, and other routine immunisations.
He said the agency was collaborating with other health programmes, including malaria and neglected tropical disease (NTD) interventions, to ensure a comprehensive approach to disease prevention.
“Our goal is to vaccinate 106 million Nigerians by the end of February 2026,” he said, urging parents and caregivers to take advantage of the free vaccination.
Dr Eugene Iwasa, a consultant with the Centre for Wellbeing and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (CWINS), said the Measles-Rubella campaign represents a significant step in protecting children’s health.
“Measles and rubella are debilitating diseases that can lead to blindness, deafness, heart defects and mental impairment,” he said.
Also, Mrs Chika Offor, Chief Executive Officer of Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), described the campaign as a landmark effort to protect millions of Nigerian children from preventable diseases.
She said her organisation and other civil society partners were supporting government efforts by engaging directly with parents and caregivers through markets, churches and mosques.
Offor urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free vaccination to protect their children, stressing that collective participation would help the country achieve a healthier, disease-free future.
The Measles-Rubella Integrated Campaign, which began in selected states and the FCT, will continue in phases, with the next rollout scheduled for Oct. 18.
(NAN)