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MAKURDI: – The Executive Secretary (ES), Benue State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), Mrs Grace Ashi Wende, has stated that currently six Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, have been hit with an outbreak of measles.
She made the disclosure even as the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Yanmar Ortese, has charged health workers in the state to ensure that they achieved at least 95 percent coverage immunisation during the Routine Immunisation (RI) exercise.
The revelation of the outbreak of the diseases came to a fore during the welcome address of the ES, at the flag-off of the Integrated Measles Vaccination campaign held at RCM Primary school, Mbadede, Vandeikya LGA of the state on Monday.
She said that the LGAs that were hit by the disease were Buruku, Logo, Ushongo, Gwer-West, Obi and Vandeikya Local government areas of the state.
The Executive Secretary, therefore urged the people of the state, particularly parents to take advantage of the one week exercise to immunise their children, especially those that were between 0 – 59 months, against all vaccine-preventable diseases.
She further explained that Measles was one of the major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in the country, a situation which is attributed to low RI coverage.
Describing the current exercise as unique, Wende pointed out that it was the first time, all approved vaccines for vaccine-preventable diseases like Tetanus Diphtheria (TD) for children 0-59 months and to Women of Child Bearing Age (WCBA), COVID-19 for adults aged 18 years and above and birth registration of children below 18 years shall be done simultaneously throughout the period.
According to her, “This is what has necessitated the Measles Mass Vaccination Campaign in the 24 endemic states and the FCT among children 0-59 months with the aim of reducing child mortality.
“Sadly, there have been reported cases of measles outbreaks in most Local government areas of the state in spite of sustained Measles vaccination campaigns and RI.
“Currently, there is reported outbreak of measles in Buruku, Logo, Ushongo, Gwer West, Obi and Vandeikya LGAs of Benue state as at January and February 2024 with 40 cases confirmed. This is largely due to the high number of refugees and the increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) all around the state.
“As a result of these disturbing events, the Benue State Team has recruited and trained a good number of qualified and licensed health workers and the necessary vaccines supplied awaiting administration after this flag-off exercise.
“The campaign will be given intense supportive supervision by State Supervisors and the National Management Support Team (MST) posted to all the 23 LGAs. I therefore call on all stakeholders, especially the traditional rulers at all levels to monitor the implementation in their domains and report any missed child to health workers for revisit at the appropriate time.
“I also appeal to all parents and caregivers in Benue state to cooperate with the vaccination teams to vaccinate and protect our children by making them available to the vaccination teams for all interventions and all adults to come out enmass and get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine which includes first, second and third booster doses.
“Your Excellency (Governor Hyacinth Alia), like Oliver Twist, your children will continue to ask for more. We are no doubt aware of your massive financial and moral support to the Board evidenced by the special recognition and citation given to you by the Federal Government and for which we applaud and appreciate you sir, but there are some needs from which we cannot run away from.
“We therefore, appeal to His Excellency to provide us with additional “operational vehicles” to enable us support dedicated supportive supervision of programmes for optimal performance; grant us leave to engage/recruit more health workers at the Board to realise our critical mandate of delivering Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR)” among other needs of the Board, she pleaded.
She also seizes the opportunity to appreciate UNICEF, WHO, AFENET, Rotary International, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, among other partners for their support.
Also speaking at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Yanmar Ortese pointed out that “Measles is one of the most infectious human diseases that cause serious illness, lifelong complications and death. Benue had measles outbreak in Vandeikya, Logo, Obi, Ushongo, and Buruku LGAs in February this year which has posed threat to the entire state.
“Fortunately, the highly effective, safe, and free measles vaccine to be used in this campaign is expected to protect over two million target children from the infection. It is therefore important for all stakeholders in the campaign to make frantic efforts to achieve a minimum of 95 percent coverage in every political ward by ensuring that all eligible children (0 – 59 months) are vaccinated during the 7 days campaign.
“I appreciate and acknowledge the continued support of Benue State Government to RI, and all Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) since the inception of this administration despite the numerous challenges.
“I am most especially thankful to the Governor of Benue state for the release of counterpart funds to make the flag off seamless”, he stressed.
Earlier, the Chairman Vandeikya LGA, Dennis Guda, expressed readiness to support the team achieve the desired success.
In his remarks the paramount ruler of the area and Acting Ter U Kunav, His Royal Highness, Moses Adema, thanked the state government for choosing the local government for the flag off.
While he pledged the support of traditional rulers to mobilize their subjects for the exercise, Adema said his subjects have accepted vaccination and were waiting health officers to administer it on their children. End.
