Integrated health campaign to begin Oct. 18 in Yobe — PHC Board
Integrated health campaign to begin Oct. 18 in Yobe — PHC Board
The Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board says the state will commence on Oct. 18 a 10-day integrated health campaign targeting children and adults across all 17 local government areas.
Dr Babagana Machina, Executive Secretary of the board, announced this on Thursday at a one-day mass mobilisation dialogue with journalists and social media influencers in Damaturu.
Machina, represented by Dr Umar Chiroma, Director of Immunisation and Disease Control, said the campaign was the first of its kind in Nigeria and possibly in Africa.
He added that it would integrate six different health interventions into a single operation to maximise resources and reduce disruption to routine health services.
He said the integrated campaign would include the introduction of the new Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, which replaces the previous measles-only vaccine, as well as intensified polio immunisation.
Other aspects of the campaign according to him were malaria chemoprevention, distribution of insecticide-treated nets, routine immunisation and the administration of azithromycin to prevent trachoma, an eye infection that can cause blindness.
“The campaign will run from Oct. 18 to 28, with possible mop-up exercises to reach missed populations. Our goal is to ensure every eligible person benefits from at least one of these interventions,” he said.
Machina explained that Yobe State was selected as one of the pilot states to implement the integrated model, noting that its success would serve as a reference point for similar health campaigns across the country.
He said the Measles-Rubella vaccine would target children aged nine months to 14 years, while other interventions such as malaria prevention and azithromycin distribution would cover a broader population, including adults.
“The MR vaccine will help prevent severe complications from measles and rubella, especially among children and women of childbearing age,” he added.
According to him, health teams will go house-to-house to administer vaccines and medicines, distribute insecticide-treated nets, and issue household tokens as proof of registration for the subsequent net distribution scheduled for Nov. 7.
He urged the media and social media influencers to support the campaign through accurate and consistent public enlightenment, stressing that misinformation about vaccines had previously hampered health interventions.
“Use your platforms responsibly to spread the right information. Vaccines and medicines used in Nigeria are thoroughly tested and approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),” he said.
Read Also: Breaking: Senate confirms Amupitan as new INEC Chairman
Machina commended development partners such as UNICEF, WHO, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and others for funding and technical support toward the integrated campaign.
Also speaking, Dr Musa Matazu, representative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said the integrated campaign was designed to improve health coverage and reduce duplication of efforts.
He urged communities to embrace the initiative and ensure that all eligible persons receive the services provided.
The campaign will target children under five for polio vaccination and malaria chemoprevention, while individuals aged zero to 100 years will receive azithromycin to prevent trachoma.
The Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board said it expected the campaign to reach millions of residents across the state, with special attention to hard-to-reach areas.
