By: Aisha Mohammed
Measles remains a leading cause of death and disability especially among children under five years.
The infection is a highly transmissible viral infection that remains a burden especially in the northern region of Nigeria.
High case-fatality rates in Africa and other developing countries have been attributed to poor shelter and overcrowdedness, underlying immune deficiency disorders due to malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency and lack of access to medical care.
United Nations Children’s Fund, Social Behaviour Change Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, George Eki, said the improvement recorded on routine immunization and strengthening of regional laboratories diagnostic capacities, brought about the successful eradication of measles from Nigeria.
He therefore emphasized on the need for a behavioral change towards vaccines decline in other to save the lives of the under five year old children.
Eki however said, although measles fatalities declined over the years, laboratory confirmation was sub-optimal, hence the introduction of the integrated vaccine to reduce vaccination fatigue from many rounds of campaign, cost of campaign amongst other reasons.
He further explained that Measles infection, despite being a vaccine preventable disease has continued to spread in most African countries, with devastating effects on mostly under 5-year children.
The UNICEF, Social Behaviour Change Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, therefore urged parents and care givers to avail their children for vaccination.
On his part, UNICEF Social Behavioral Change, Consultant, in Adamawa State, Pharmacist Innocent Udemezue, said measles is an endemic disease in Nigeria, with recurrent outbreaks occurring at irregular intervals that affects up to 20 million people annually worldwide, mostly in the developing countries.
Udemezue, said Nigeria is one of only ten countries in the world with measles vaccine coverage of less than 50% and therefore sort the support of the media to help in raising awareness on the importance of the integrated campaign.
Explaining the burden of measles in Nigeria that has shown to be persistently higher in the northern region of the country, The UNICEF Social Behavior Change, Consultant, in Adamawa State, Pharmacist Innocent Udemezue, called on well meaning individuals to join in the campaign of integrated vaccine for a brighter future for all.
