Ogun First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, Urges Stakeholders to Support Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign

The wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, has called on mothers, stakeholders, civil society groups, and religious and traditional leaders to actively support the upcoming Measles and Rubella (M-R) vaccination campaign set to commence nationwide in October.

Mrs Abiodun made the appeal during a sensitization program organized by her Ajose Foundation in collaboration with the Centre for Well-being and Integrated Solutions (C-WINS) and the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses. The event, held for wives of local government chairmen and key stakeholders, aimed to mobilize grassroots participation in the immunization drive.

Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, the First Lady cited World Health Organization (WHO) data, noting that measles remains a leading cause of death among children under five in Nigeria. In 2023 alone, over 10 million cases and 136,000 deaths were recorded globally, with outbreaks reported in 37 local government areas across 13 Nigerian states.

She also emphasized the dangers of rubella, which can cause congenital rubella syndrome, leading to lifelong disabilities such as blindness, deafness, and heart defects. “The M-R vaccine is a critical intervention that can prevent 2.8 million deaths in Nigeria and reduce the global burden of these diseases,” she stated.

Mrs Abiodun urged stakeholders to counter vaccine misinformation and ensure no child is left unprotected. “We must educate those misled by conspiracy theories. These are the same vaccines that protected us from polio, whooping cough, and yellow fever,” she added.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Tayo Lawal, stressed the importance of community engagement, advocating for workshops, social media campaigns, and interactive sessions with healthcare professionals to address concerns and dispel myths.

Representing C-WINS, Mrs Temitope Orji commended the Ogun State government for its commitment to child health and pledged continued support for the vaccination initiative.

The campaign seeks to safeguard children’s health and secure a brighter future for Nigeria’s next generation.