Stories by Mariyah Adamu, Abuja
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has pledged his support for the National Measles-Rubella, MR, vaccination campaign.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the federal government will launch a nationwide MR vaccination campaign in October.
Ogunwusi, who made the pledge while briefing journalists in Abuja, also called for mass mobilisation for the exercise.
He said the campaign, which will be anchored by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, alongside other health stakeholders, is an exercise that every Nigerian must support and key into.
According to him, “Measles and Rubella are not distant problems, they are real threats affecting our families and taking young lives.The good news is that these diseases are vaccine-preventable.
“This campaign targeting the vaccination of children from nine months old to 14 years is not just an event, it is a call to protect our future.
“The nationwide rollout of Measles-Rubella vaccine is expected to significantly reduce childhood mortality and improve Nigeria’s overall health indicators,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to take collective action to encourage the health sector.
“I fully endorse the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign and I call on parents, caregivers, school authorities and community leaders to ensure that our children participate in this exercise,” he stressed.
The traditional ruler also called on his colleagues, religious leaders and community influencers to rally support for this vaccination exercise and also pass the message to their subjects in their various communities.
“We want you to educate, dispel myths and mobilise every parent to vaccinate their children,” he noted.
The Ooni also pledged to activate the influence of the traditional institution to ensure that the message reaches every household.
“Together, we can protect our children and build a healthier future for our land, we did it during the COVID era and we can do it again. We will continue to support the health initiatives of NPHCDA,” he said.
The campaign is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to eliminate measles and rubella, in line with global health goals and sustainable development priorities.
This initiative had received widespread support from government bodies and international health partners.
The Ooni’s endorsement is expected to boost community trust and accelerate uptake, especially in rural and underserved areas where traditional leaders hold much ground.
