MEASLES-RUBELLA, NIPDS, MNCHW: ASPHCDA TAKES VACCINATION MESSAGE TO TRADITIONAL RULERS
By Nnedinma Okeke
In getting the buy-in of Traditional Rulers toward immunization and other Primary Healthcare (PHC) services, the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) together with Partners has taken vaccination messages to the State Traditional Rulers Council meeting.
Leading the team for the advocacy visit held at the Secretary to the State Government’s Hall, Government House Awka was the Executive Secretary, ASPHCDA, Pharm Chisom Uchem represented by the Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Dr Nnamdi Placid Uliagbafusi.
The ASPHCDA Boss explained that the essence of the visit was to enlighten the Traditional Rulers on three messages all centered around immunization and PHC services.
“First message is on the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) which is currently ongoing in the State with focus on Pregnant women and children aged zero to 59 months.
“It commenced on June 17th to 22nd and entails Vitamin A supplementation, Deworming, Routine immunization, Birth registration, Family planning, MUAC screening, and Multi micro nutrient for pregnant women.
“Second message is the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) which focus on vaccinating children aged zero to 59 months with oral Polio Vaccine. It is set to commence on June 28th to July 1st 2025.
“Thirdly, is the Measles-Rubella vaccination which is to commence in Anambra, February 2026. It is a vaccination targeted for children nine months to one month before 15 years o0f age to protect them from measles and rubella disease,” she said.
The ES noted that before the Measles-Rubella campaign there shall be community dialogue with the Traditional Rulers, Town Unions, Women Groups, and other Stakeholders in the community to inform and educate them on the importance of the vaccination.
She pleaded with the Traditional Rulers to aid in informing their communities on these immunization activities and the utilisation of PHC services thereby benefiting from Government interventions such as free antenatal care and delivery services.
The WHO Representative, Mrs Uju Ojiagu enlightened the Traditional Rulers on the structures put in place to ensure vaccinations during and outside campaigns gets to riverine areas such as some communities in Anambra West LGA.
She noted that the State and Partners ensures that all immunization activities carried out in the state was also recieved by people in riverine communities across the state.
The Chairman, Anambra Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka commended the team for their messages to the council and their works in communities across the state. He assured of their support and prayed for strength upon them for the works they were doing now and those ahead.
Present at the visit were the Director Community Health Services, ASPHCDA- Dr Ngozi Okeke, State Health Educator- Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, Representative of UNICEF, WHO and NPHCDA, others.
Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State