Measles-Rubella vaccination: Ooni of Ife urges mass mobilisation

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerians to actively participate in the life-saving National Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign. He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ advocacy meeting ahead of the launch of the national vaccination campaign. The federal government, through the National Primary […]

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerians to actively participate in the life-saving National Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign.

He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ advocacy meeting ahead of the launch of the national vaccination campaign.

The federal government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), is set to launch the Measles-Rubella vaccine in October 2025 to strengthen immunity and curb the spread of measles and rubella across the country.

The Ooni, who highlighted the importance of the campaign, noted that the initiative is aimed at protecting children from preventable diseases.

Targeting children aged 9 months to 14 years, the nationwide rollout of the MR vaccine is expected to significantly reduce childhood mortality and improve Nigeria’s overall health indicators.

The Ooni expressed deep concern over the continued impact of vaccine-preventable diseases in the country, and urged all Nigerians to take collective action.

He said, “I fully endorse the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign and call on all parents, caregivers, school authorities and community members to ensure our children—our future—are protected.

“Measles and Rubella are not distant problems, they are real threats affecting our families and taking young lives. The good news is that these diseases are vaccine-preventable. This campaign is not just an event; it is a call to protect our future.”

He also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community influencers to return to their localities with a unified message: “Educate, dispel myths, and mobilize every parent to vaccinate their children.”

The Ooni pledged to activate the influence of traditional institutions across the country to ensure the message reaches every household.

“Together, we can protect our children and build a healthier future for our land; we did it before during the COVID and will continue to support health initiatives of the NPHCDA.

We are investing in the future by embracing steps to eradicate all these vaccine-preventable ailments just as we did in the past for small pox,” he said.

The Ooni’s endorsement is expected to boost community trust and accelerate uptake, especially in rural and underserved areas where traditional leaders hold immense sway.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to severe health complications including pneumonia, diarrhoea, and even death—particularly in children.

Rubella, also known as German Measles, while generally mild in children, can cause serious birth defects such as blindness, deafness, holes in the heart, and neural malfunction if contracted by pregnant women. Introducing the MR vaccine is a critical step toward achieving better child and maternal health outcomes in Nigeria.