Kwara first lady sensitises LG chairmen’s wives on Measles-Rubella vaccination

Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, has met with the spouses of the 16 local government chairmen and other key stakeholders in the state as part of an awareness campaign on the introduction of the Measles and Rubella vaccine scheduled for October 2025.

Speaking during the sensitisation campaign programme for the local government chairmen’s wives, the Governor’s wife appealed to stakeholders to drive the awareness effort within communities to ensure that 95 per cent coverage is achieved.

She encouraged wives and mothers to present their children aged between nine months and 15 years for vaccination, stating that it is better to prevent the consequences of measles and rubella through early treatment.

Ambassador Abdulrazaq noted that the meeting was aimed at equipping the chairmen’s wives—who represent the closest rung to the grassroots—with the necessary information to enlighten their communities about the upcoming vaccine rollout.

She also commended the partnership between the Centre for Well-Being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS) and the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum for initiating the sensitisation initiative, saying the campaign is designed to ensure the vaccine reaches even the most remote communities.

“Rubella, often mistaken for a mild childhood rash-like illness and frequently overshadowed by measles, carries severe health consequences when contracted by pregnant women. Approximately one in every ten cases thought to be measles is, in fact, rubella.

“Research has shown that maternal rubella infection during the first trimester can lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which manifests in newborns as cataracts, heart defects, hearing impairments, and developmental disabilities.

“While rubella infections during pregnancy continue to pose a serious yet preventable threat to newborn health across Nigeria, it is imperative that we adopt practical measures to eliminate these diseases. Hence, engagements like this are vital to equip you—as wives of local government chairmen—with the relevant information on the measles and rubella vaccine. This will help in community-level dissemination and in dispelling unfounded claims ahead of the vaccine rollout scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.”

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She added: “It may interest you to know that in 2023 alone, global measles cases surged by 20 per cent, reaching 10.3 million. Africa bore the brunt of the crisis. According to World Health Organization data, only 83 per cent of children globally received their first dose of the measles vaccine, while just 74 per cent received the second dose—far below the 95 per cent national coverage needed to prevent outbreaks.”

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Professor Nusirat Elelu, urged the chairmen’s wives to contribute to the vaccination campaign. She noted that their voices, leadership, advocacy, and mobilisation efforts would be instrumental in ensuring no child is left behind.

Professor Elelu emphasised that measles remains one of the most contagious and fatal viral diseases affecting young children worldwide, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.

“Between 2000 and 2023, it is estimated that measles vaccination alone averted over 60 million deaths globally.

“Yet, the disease remains endemic in many developing countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia, where weak health systems and limited access to quality immunisation services persist,” she said.

She added that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with development partners, is introducing the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine into the national immunisation schedule as a single combined dose.

“This not only simplifies vaccine delivery but also reduces the number of visits a child must make to complete their immunisation schedule, improving both compliance and coverage.”

Hajia Zainab Abubakar, representing Baruten Local Government Area, pledged on behalf of the other local government chairmen’s spouses to take the campaign to all 16 local government areas in the state.

The Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya, also pledged the full support of the traditional institution in ensuring that the campaign is successfully implemented in every part of the state.