By Oyem Jonathan
In a fulfilment to strengthen public health resilience and reduce preventable childhood morbidity, the wife of the Executive Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Area, Mrs. Ella Jude Chukwunwike , has officially flagged off the Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Sensitization and Introduction Campaign at the Council Headquarters, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
The campaign—an integral component of the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs); is aimed at ensuring that all eligible children within the council area receive the MR vaccine, thereby contributing to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global target of eliminating measles and rubella, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3 on “Good Health and Well-being.”
Delivering a keynote address, the Executive Chairman of Aniocha South, Hon. Pastor Jude Chukwunwike, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Patricia Adolue, emphasized the irreplaceable value of immunization as a preventive public health intervention. He noted that vaccination remains one of the most cost-effective strategies for disease prevention, noting that “vaccination is cheaper, safer, and far more effective than treatment or cure.”
Hon. Chukwunwike reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to primary healthcare development and assured continuous logistical and administrative support to health agencies for the successful implementation of the immunization exercise.
In her address, Mrs. Chukwunwike described the campaign as “a lifesaving initiative”, urging parents, caregivers, religious leaders, and educational administrators to ensure that every eligible child is immunized. She advocated for an expanded stakeholder engagement framework that would deepen public awareness and enhance community compliance.
“The measles-rubella vaccine is not just a shot—it is a shield of life. We must protect our children against diseases that are preventable through timely vaccination,” Mrs. Chukwunwike stated.
The First Lady also conveyed the goodwill of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum and the Forum of Wives of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (WALGON), reaffirming their collective resolve to support national immunization campaigns aimed at improving child survival indices.
The event drew participation from top health and education officials, including the Council’s Head of Personnel Management, Mr. Austin Akaeze; Executive Secretary of the Local Education Authority (LEA), Dr. Jones Ofunne; Supervisory Councillor for Education, Comrade Austin Unorchie; and the Aniocha South Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Awele Nwaochei. Representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other community-based organizations were also in attendance.
Medical experts as well as the executive secretary, local education Authority (LEA) Dr.Jones Ofunne stressed that the MR vaccine provides dual protection against measles and rubella—two highly contagious viral infections known to cause severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in newborns.
The sensitization campaign is expected to be followed by field immunization activities across the 11 wards of Aniocha South, targeting children between 9 months and 15 years of age.
By reinforcing public confidence in immunization, the Aniocha South Council aligns with Nigeria’s broader public health goals and WHO’s roadmap toward measles and rubella elimination by 2030.
