Anambra, UNICEF to vaccinate over 2m children against measles, rubella

The Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has announced plans to vaccinate more than two million children against measles and rubella across the state.

The vaccination exercise is scheduled to run from February 4 to 15, 2026, targeting children aged nine months to 14 years. It will be conducted at about 330 locations, including public schools, markets, churches and other community centres.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka ahead of the exercise, the Executive Secretary of ASPHCDA, Mrs Chisom Uchem, assured parents and caregivers of the safety and effectiveness of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. She said the exercise would be handled strictly by trained and licensed health workers and that the vaccines would be provided free of charge.

“We were all vaccinated as children and we are alive today. We cannot give our children anything harmful because their health is our priority,” Uchem said.

UNICEF’s Social and Behaviour Change Consultant, Mr Victor James, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to the health and well-being of children. He stressed that measles and rubella are preventable diseases and urged stakeholders to ensure that every eligible child is reached during the campaign.

“It is unacceptable for any child to suffer from measles or rubella when we have the knowledge and means to prevent them,” he said.

Also speaking, a paediatrician at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Dr Mary Queen Uju, warned that non-immunisation could lead to increased disease outbreaks and higher mortality rates.

She explained that vaccines help the body develop immunity without causing illness, noting that widespread vaccination reduces the spread of diseases. According to her, immunisation prevents about five million deaths globally each year, while low coverage increases the risk of outbreaks and preventable illnesses.

The State Health Educator, Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, said health teams would adopt an outreach approach to ensure full coverage. She explained that teams would visit healthcare facilities, schools, churches, mosques, markets and motor parks to reach children and sensitise communities ahead of the exercise.

She added that special arrangements, including the use of boats, had been made to access riverine and hard-to-reach communities to ensure no child is left out.