The Ekiti State Primary Health Care Delivery Agency (EKSPHCDA) in collaboration with UNICEF WHO, C-WINS, IVAC, Girl Effect and other partners have solicited the support of all the local government chairmen in Ekiti State for effective implementation and administration of Measles and Rubella vaccine to children between the age of 9 months and 14 years in January 2026.
In a one day planning stakeholders meeting with ALGON members held in Ado Ekiti on Thursday 27th, the Chairman of the Agency, DR. Ogunbunmi Olufunke said one of the reasons for summoning all the local government chairmen is to effect their input in the health system of Ekiti State.
Ogunbunmi said the chairmen are the very first point of contact in the communities with their individual families and our individual families that are there. The chairman said further that they want to collaborate with the chairmen most importantly, when they are giving immunization or when they want to give immunization on Measles and Rubella.
“So we can’t do it alone, they have to collaborate with us, we have to do Sensitisation and community mobilization through them to make that vaccination successful. That is why we gather them together.” She said.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Rasheed Adepoju said Nigeria just introduced Measles and Rubella vaccine for children between the age of 9 months and 14 years. He said the first part of the introduction took place in the northern states and Oyo state last month, noting further that, for other southern states in the country, the introduction is January next year
“We have commenced our mobilization and Sensitisation of the people in the communities and we are starting with the chairmen who are the grassrooters, who actually know their domains very well. We need their support, their collaboration to ensure the success of the introduction of the vaccine.” He said
Dr Adepoju said in the past, there has been mis communication or mis conception about interaction between the local government and the agency. He said it is just a shift of policy at the national level were they have what is called Primary Health Care under one roof. Where the authority of the primary health care facilities are now being restructured and brought under the State Primary Health Care Development Agency or board in some states.
He highlighted further that the change in policy at the national level is what the chairmen for now actually understood and is what the misconception is all about.
Adepoju noted that the opening of communication between ALGON and the agency and necessary ministry at the federal level to resolve whatever the differences or unclear indications and policies will pave way for room to improve and be on the same page and have a better and improved Primary Health Care Services in Ekiti State.
He advised, begged and encourage the parents to give unfiltered access to their children to get this vaccine.” “Prevention is better and cheaper than cure.” He concluded.
While speaking on behalf of all the local government chairmen,, the Ado local government chairman, Chief Osaloni said the theme of the meeting is audible and clear to them and is just to keep an awareness among the people in their different local governments on the issue of Measles and Rubella.
According to the chairman, “it is an enlightenment for us to go out and tell our people that what we can do to protect this kind of diseases not to spread in our state and local government is to allow their children to get vaccinated. We have heard all they have said and we are going back home to create an awareness within our people to know exactly where we are going and the effect of this thing and it’s importance to our people.”
Part of the objectives of the meeting according to the State Health Educator, Dr. Olajumoke Oguntoye is to introduce the MR Vaccine introduction Campaign, to discuss the objectives, strategies and timeline for the campaign and to identify potential challenges and develop mitigation strategies.
Also, to assign roles and responsibilities to effectively champion the introduction in the LGAs and to develop and adopt a joint action plan to support community – led intervention that enhance uptake of the vaccine across all LGAs.
Among those present at the meeting include, all the local government chairmen, coordinators of Primary Health Educators from the 16 LGAs and representatives of UNICEF, WHO IVAC and others.
