FCTA rolls out 1.5m vaccine doses for measles, others

The FCT Primary Health Care Board (FPHCB) has commenced an integrated vaccination exercise in the nation’s capital to tackle the Measles-Rubella disease among children between the ages of nine months and 14 years. Other vaccines featured in the exercise include Oral Polio for children aged 0–59 months, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for nine-year-old […]

The FCT Primary Health Care Board (FPHCB) has commenced an integrated vaccination exercise in the nation’s capital to tackle the Measles-Rubella disease among children between the ages of nine months and 14 years.

Other vaccines featured in the exercise include Oral Polio for children aged 0–59 months, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for nine-year-old girls, and routine immunisation for children aged 0–23 months.

Dr. Ruquayya Wamakko, Executive Secretary of FPHCB, urged the media to disseminate information about the exercise to hard-to-reach communities.

“All eyes are on the FCTA on what it will do to fight Measles-Rubella, and the media must help project the vaccination exercise to the FCT populace and ensure turnout,” she said.

She added, “When we prevent these diseases at the community level, there will be less crowding in FCT health facilities.”

Mr. Tanko Chadwafwa, FCT Routine Immunisation Officer, said measles was a highly infectious viral disease characterised by fever, maculopapular rash, cough, conjunctivitis, and coryza (runny nose).

He warned that it could lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death, especially among young children and immunocompromised individuals.