In preparation for the upcoming Integrated Measles Vaccination Campaign in Anambra State, the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and key partners, organized a one-day Education Stakeholders’ engagement meeting.
The meeting brought together Education Secretaries and Officers-in-Charge from the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Anambra State, along with representatives from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET).
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of ASPHCDA, Pharm. Chisom Uchem, represented by Dr. Nnamdi Placid Uliagbafusi, Director of Disease Control and Immunization, emphasized the vital role of education stakeholders in ensuring the success of the campaign. She urged them to act as ambassadors, spreading awareness about the campaign aimed at protecting children across the state.
The NPHCDA Coordinator for Anambra State, Mr. Obioha Agbakwuru, expressed gratitude for the support received from education stakeholders and the media during previous Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs). He highlighted the strategic role of schools in reaching the target population, stating that their goal is to achieve 95% vaccination coverage of children aged nine to 59 months.
“Most of the target population for the measles campaign are in schools, which is why the involvement of education stakeholders and the media is crucial to the campaign’s success,” he said. He called for continued collaboration to ensure all eligible children across Anambra’s 21 LGAs are vaccinated.
UNICEF’s Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Consultant, Dr. Uju Eze, underscored the importance of the stakeholders’ role, noting that schools will serve as key sites for reaching the target group. She provided an overview of the 2024 Integrated SIAs, which aim to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
Mrs. Chinenye Udeani, a CHAI Technical Assistant, highlighted the integrated nature of the measles campaign, adding that it will also serve as an opportunity to raise awareness about the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for girls.
Concluding the session, Anambra State Health Educator, Mrs. Uju Onwuegbuzina, urged all stakeholders to ensure that no eligible child is left out of the upcoming vaccination campaign.
