The Anambra Government has advised parents and caregivers to present their children and wards for the ongoing measles vaccination in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, gave the advice at the launch of the measles integrated vaccination campaign held at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Uke in Idemili North Local Government Area (LGAs) on Tuesday.
Obidike urged community leaders to ensure effective mobilisation of their subjects for the exercise.
He said that the state was targeting 100 per cent coverage.
He described the measles outbreak in nine communities, leading to the death of some children, as the first health emergency the Chukwuma Soludo’s administration faced.
“With the devastating flooding in seven of the 21 LGAs of the state, we are worried that measles and other contagious diseases might resurface, if adequate precaution is not taken,” he said.
Obidike said that measles often occur in congested and dirty environments.
He said that already the ministry and other government agencies were attending to flood victims in the camps.
He said that government was already looking into the issues of upgrading the primary healthcare centre and employment of more doctors and midwives in the area.
Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the campaign and other health services would be staggered because of the flooding in some areas.
Ezenyimulu said that the phase one of the campaign would start on Nov.1 in Aguata, Anaocha, Awka South, Ihiala, Njikoka, Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Onitsha South.
Others include Onitsha North, Orumba South, Orumba North, Oyi and Some wards in Okpoko in Ogbaru LGAs.
She also said that the second phase would take place from Nov.15 to Nov. 23 in the remaining Anambra East, Ayamelum, Anambra West, Awka North and some wards in Ogbaru.
Ezenyimulu said that the vaccination was for children from nine months to 59 months, while other routine immunisation was for children aged 0-23 months.
She said that COVID-19 vaccination would be given to residents from 18 years and above.
She further advised parents, who wished to register the births of their children, to do so during the campaign.
She appealed to the state government to employ more doctors and midwives, pointing out that the primary healthcare centres in the state were understaffed.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili North LGA, Chief Chuks Igboanua, also appealed to the State Government to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre, Uke to a General Hospital.
Igboanua said that the area had coninued to record avoidable deaths due to the lack of doctors at the health centre.
