By Agbonlahor Felicia
The Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) in collaboration with partners has taken the advocacy on measles vaccination for children between 9-15 months old to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State Chapter, for onward sensitization of members of their various churches.
Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Director, Disease Control and Immunization (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Freeborn Eseigbe, said that measles vaccination for children between 9-15 months old would commence in earnest.
He made an appeal to CAN for modalities to reach out to the Christian communities in Edo State for proper sensitization on the need to get their children ready for vaccination.
In the same vein, Pharm. Ukwo Vandi, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) during the visit, discussed the serious complication of measles, which she said includes blindness.
Ukwo explained that it has been observed that a lot of children did not complete the second dosage of the measles vaccination, adding that the negligence has further led to several outbreaks of measles cases in several parts of the State.
Ukwo urged parents and guardians to comply and bring their children out for vaccination against measles virus to protect them and curb the spread of the virus.
Also, the advocacy team from the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency sensitized members of CAN on the adverse effects of communicable diseases such as COVID-19 and Monkeypox.
Speaking on the adverse effects of communicable diseases, Dr. Freeborn Eseigbe, urged members of the public to watch out for the following symptoms of Monkeypox which include fever, headache, muscle ache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, rash that can look like blisters that appear on the face, mouth and other parts of the body.
Eseigbe advised that anyone with a suspected case should visit the nearest health facility immediately for proper treatment and management.
Addressing members of the Edo State Chapter of CAN, the State Immunization Officer, Mrs. Elfreda Omogun, stressed that the perception of some people that COVID-19 is over is wrong.
She emphasized that the state is yet to achieve herd immunity, hence the need for the continuous vaccinations.
She reiterated that older people are more susceptible to contracting the Covid-19 virus, and pleaded with the leaders of CAN to convey the message to the churches so they would understand and know the importance and benefit of vaccination.
Also speaking, UNICEF SBCC, Dr. Aminah Yahaya, emphasized that a behavioral change is vital in ensuring the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and stressed that the vaccines are safe and efficient.
Yahaya thereafter encouraged the leaders of CAN to mobilize their members for vaccination.
In his response, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State Chapter, Bishop Oriname Oyennude Kure, expressed gratitude to the team for coming and assured them that their message would be communicated to the churches represented by CAN.
