Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Anthony Onoriode Ofoni, has launched the 2024 measles vaccination campaign.
The campaign targets children from age nine months to five years old in Uvwie Local Government Area.
The campaign, which runs from October 12 to 18, aims to protect vulnerable children from measles, a significant public health threat.
Speaking at the event on Saturday at Alaka Health Centre in Uvwie Local Government Area, Ofoni stressed the importance of community involvement.
He urged leaders to raise awareness, mobilise communities and collaborate with schools and religious institutions to ensure widespread coverage.
He assured residents that the vaccination will be administered free of charge at various locations.
The council chairman emphasised the critical importance of healthcare, describing it as a cornerstone of societal development.
He noted that one of the key indicators of a developing society is the health status of its citizens, particularly its children, who represent the future.
“Our children are our future and that is why this vaccination campaign is important,” Ofoni stressed.
He thanked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for giving approval for the vaccination exercise to be carried out for free.
He urged all health officers in Uvwie to ensure that all nooks and crannies of the local government area are properly covered.
Ofoni called on all parents to allow the health workers assigned to carry out the exercise to access their children with the vaccine.
Health officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Uvwie Local Government Health Authority highlighted the severity of measles, its contagious nature and potential complications, including blindness and deafness.
They reassured the public that the vaccine is safe and effective.
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