By joshua 
Ebonyi Govt, UNICEF Partner Journalists For Effective Delivery Of Measles-Rubella Vaccination
By Emmanuel Agbo, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Ministry of health in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have organized a one day workshop to journalists for information dissemination towards delivering a very effective and efficient Measles-Rubella vaccination in the hinterlands across the State
Speaking during the workshop, the Executive Secretary of Ebonyi State primary health care development Agency Dr. Emeka Ovuoba disclosed that the vaccination exercise would take effect from February 4 to February 14 targeting children between the ages of nine months and 14 years, saying that every eligible child are expected to be vaccinated.
Dr. Ovuoba explained that the engagement with media professionals was aimed at ensuring that accurate, timely, and factual information about the vaccination campaign reached every part of the state and urged the participants of robust partnership to achieve the desired objectives.
He noted that the exercise would be conducted strictly by trained and licensed health practitioners in line with national and international health standards.
Addressing concerns and misconceptions surrounding the vaccination, Dr. Ovuoba assured parents that the vaccines were free, safe, and highly effective.
“We were all vaccinated as children and we are alive today. We cannot give our children anything harmful because their health and well-being remain our top priority,” he said.
He urged parents and caregivers to bring out their children to participate in the exercise as the vaccine is free of charge.
“These vaccines I am talking about have paid by Ebonyi State Government as well as National primary care development Agency and the partners in Nigeria. These vaccines are free of charge and it is free from any form of complications. I am urging parents to bring out their children within the age bracket of 9 months to 14 years to get vaccinated” he said
Also speaking, Mr Frank Nwodika, UNICEF’s Social and Behaviour Change/ Health Consultant reiterated that the health and well-being of children remain central to the agency’s mission, describing children as the future of Ebonyi State.
He noted that preventable diseases such as measles and rubella should no longer pose a threat where adequate knowledge and proven preventive measures exist.
According to him “It will not be good to hear that any child is affected by measles or rubella when we have the knowledge and means to prevent these diseases. The vaccine is safe for our children and has no adverse effects. We therefore urge all stakeholders to ensure that no child is missed during the exercise,”
He further called on the media to play an active role in promoting awareness and generating demand for the vaccine across the state.
On his part, M $ E State Health Education unit, Ministry of health Mr Ote Ovuoba warned that failure to immunise eligible children could result in increased disease outbreaks and higher mortality rates while assuring residents that health teams would be deployed to healthcare facilities, churches, schools, among other areas to guarantee comprehensive and well-coordinated coverage throughout the vaccination period.