How national measles campaign was carried out in Sokoto

Measles   is a killer of children under five and as part of efforts towards eradicating the disease in 2020 the federal government carried out the first phase of this year’s measles follow up campaign in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) from  the 21st to 25th of last month. The campaign is […]

Measles   is a killer of children under five and as part of efforts towards eradicating the disease in 2020 the federal government carried out the first phase of this year’s measles follow up campaign in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) from  the 21st to 25th of last month.
The campaign is aimed at immunizing children under the age of five against measles  and the immunization programme, is expected to gulp $45.4 million (N9.9 billion) while 39.4 million children between the ages of nine months to five years are targeted for the immunization exercise.
According to the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA) Dr. Ado Mohammed, the exercise is meant to give opportunity to those who have missed out in previous immunization exercise.
This reporter monitored the five days measles immunization exercise in Sokoto North Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Sokoto North local government area is one of the metropolitan areas in the state and it is densely populated.
The local government has 11 wards with 55 centres opened for the just concluded immunization against measles.
Each of the centres has seven staff including vaccinators, town announcer, record taking and mobilizers, among them was the village head of each ward.
The exercise commenced at 8am and lasted till 2pm with some centres closing around 3pm due to the influx of people.
The area received 51,940 doses of measles vaccines and used 49,580 doses while a total of 45,538 children were immunized and there was no reported case of resistance in the area.
A resident of Tudun Wada, who identified himself simply as Muhammed told our reporter, that the exercise was accepted by all and sundry because they know the negative effect of measles.
"It has no mercy for children. It can make them lose sensitive organs and it can kill easily. This is why I made sure all my children and those of my brothers were immunized against the disease," he said.
The village heads of Magajin Rafi ‘A’ and Sabon Garin Nakasarin Gagi, Malam Bunu Shehu and Malam Bello Dan Maitoka respectively ,described the exercise as hitch-free and commended the government and their international partners for their efforts to eradicate measles in the country.
"There is no problem at all. People are trooping with their children and the officers are doing their work diligently," Shehu said.
The focal person in Maganin Rafi ‘A’, Babangida Aminu said four centres were opened at the ward and they were not lacking anything.
The local immunization officer,Alhaji Sidi Nura, confirmed the receipt of 51,940 vaccines out of which 49,480 had been used while a total number of 45,538 children were immunized during the exercise.
He commended the people of the area for their sustained cooperation, saying that no case of resistance was recorded in the area.
The Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Sani Labaran said they were targeting about 900,000 children who are withing the 9-month and 5-year age bracket.
He said that based on the information received from local government areas as at 12am of Wednesday,25 (last day for the exercise) the target is over 90 percent achieved.
He added that  issues that emanated were trashed out at the local and state levels evening meetings, citing the initial refusal by some people in Kware local government area to accept the immunization which prompted them to use another method of distributing sweets and other pluses before they brought their children to be immunized.
Labaran  attributed the success recorded to the constant publicity and mobilization, saying traditional and religious leaders were used to reach out to people while vaccinators went to nursery and primary schools where they immunized quite a number of children.
He said  measles has been rampant in the state, especially in Sokoto North and Sokoto South local government areas and that it always carries a lot of mortality.
He said: "These two local governments recorded so many number of cases this year but has not reached the level of epidemic".
He was however optimistic that with the quality rounds of immunization, measles could be totally eliminated in the country just like polio.
This reporter and media monitor made the following observations after going round some of the centres:
–     The exercise was hitch-free in the areas covered.
–    The  involvement of traditional rulers had contributed to the success of the exercise.
    There was adequate logistics and staff.
–    The synergy between the local government, state and international agencies had made great impact as some of the logistics had been provided by the agencies.
 –    There was no safety gloves provided for vaccinators.
    The following recommendations are therefore made from the exercise:
–    There is  need for adequate publicity for future exercises through active participation of the media.
–    Vaccinators should be provided with safety aids including hand gloves.
    The vaccination time should be extended to at least 4pm during future exercises.
–    The house-to-house exercise should also be considered.