No fewer than three million children, aged between 9 months to 14 years are expected to be vaccinated across all 20 Local Government Areas of Ogun State as the State government officially flagged off the Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign in Abeokuta.
Speaking on the initiative, Ogun State First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun explained that global and local data showed Measles-Rubella remained among the leading causes of preventable childhood illness and death, especially in regions with low immunisation coverage, noting that the week-long integrated campaign would run until February 5, 2026.
Mrs. Abiodun, further explained that although global measles deaths have dropped by 88 percent since the year 2000, however, the disease still claimed an estimated 95,000 lives last year, mostly children under the age of five.
The First Lady disclosed that the campaign was projected to reach approximately three million children statewide, warning parents not to allow fear or misinformation to undermine the immunisation efforts.
She described the campaign as a decisive response to alarming child health statistics, stressing that Measles-Rubella are not minor childhood illnesses but diseases that could lead to pneumonia, brain damage, blindness, deafness and in the case of rubella, miscarriage, stillbirth and Congenital Rubella Syndrome.
“Sadly, about 80 percent of these deaths occurred in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. These are preventable conditions, yet they continue to threaten the lives and wellbeing of our children where vaccination coverage is inadequate.
“This gathering is a declaration of our collective resolve to say ‘No More’ to diseases that steal the future of our sons and daughters. The MR vaccine remains “one of the safest, most effective and affordable public health interventions available,” she said.
In her remarks, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, placed the campaign within a national statistical framework, explaining that the Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), approved the introduction of the MR vaccine into Nigeria’s Routine Immunisation Schedule following persistent measlesrubella disease burden.
Dr. Coker added that the State had targeted the vaccination of over 2.9 million eligible children during the campaign scheduled to run from January 27 to February 5, 2026.
According to her, the statistics-driven objectives of the campaign included reducing childhood morbidity and mortality, preventing Congenital Rubella Syndrome in newborns, and strengthening disease surveillance and routine immunisation systems across the State.
“Measles-Rubella remains one of the leading causes of childhood mortality globally and poses severe risks to pregnant women, often resulting in lifelong complications for the unborn child.
“The Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign aligns perfectly with our vision of ensuring that no child is left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases,’’ she said.
Speaking on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO), Laura Niclochlainn, lauded the effort of the State government for extensive preparation towards the programme, disclosing that Ogun State Measles-Rubella campaign was the loudest in the entire world, stressing that over One hundred Million children had been vaccinated in Nigeria.
“At a global level, we developed strategies, policies and surveying to see how countries are doing globally to eliminate measles-rubella and it is so exciting to see that Nigeria is using this vaccine, let’s keep the coverage high.
In his closing remark, Executive Secretary, Ogun State Primary HealthCare Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, appreciated the partners, while encouraging concerned parents across the State to present their children for the vaccination.
