Zamfara, UNICIEF and others seek journalists collaboration for measles-rubella, polio campaign

From Abdullahi .A Chakwa, Gusau

The First Lady, Hajiya Huraiya Dauda Lawal also called on journalists to contribute their quota in mobilizing and enlightened the general public on integrated campaign for measles-rubella and polio vaccination to begin in the state, on Monday October 6, 2025 towards achieving the desired objectives.

Hajiya Hurriya also said, the state government had collaborated with numerous parts together with the support of Journalists for successful campaigns and awareness to the grassroots levels.

The first lady started this at a strategic dialogue with journalists, social media influencers and U_reporters focusing on the integrated campaign for measles-rubella and polio vaccination, held at the Polio Emergency Operations Center, King Fahad ibn AbdulAzeez Women and Children Hospital, Samaru Gusau.

The First Lady also revealed that, this campaign is unique as the vaccine is going to be all rounder in order to ensure that every child is captured.

“These vaccinations will be administered in schools, playing grounds and house-to-house as the state government commits a lot of resources for the success of the programme.

The first lady, Hajiya Hurriya Dauda Lawal was represented by the state Executive Secretary Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr. Husseini Yakubu Anka said, different committees and temporary stalls at local communities had been set up apart from secondary and tertiary facilities for easy access.

Dr. Yakubu Anka also said, measles and rubella vaccines provide optimum protection especially to pregnant women because when they become infected with the virus affects child development and it can even course miscarriages before the delivery among other complications.

The Zamfara State first lady, Hajiya Hurriya Dauda Lawal said, the state had already committed resources and enough manpower on its part as counterpart funding to ensure the success of measles-rubella, polio campaign.

“This is supposed to be routine immunization across 147 wards in the state, in all the 23 secondary and 2 tertiary facilities and 724 Primary Healthcare centers (PHC) across the state. Dr. Yukubu Anka said.

Dr. Husseini Yakubu further said, the state primary healthcare Agency had already trained all the 1,280 teams including those to administer the vaccine, health educators, recorders, supervisors and the technical staff in collaboration with the partners, UNICEF, WHO, Sultan Foundation among numerous donor agencies to ensure that every child in the state is captured and all these partners has a role to play for the success of the campaign.

Dr. Husseini Yakubu Anka said, the essence of this media dialogue is to propagate to the local communities to accept the vaccine due to its importance in the development of children.

“Our role as PHC is to ensure preventive care to all the general public and ensure that they are not exposed to disease. Dr. Husseini stated.

The Executive Secretary also revealed that the Federal government resolved to introduce both measles and rubella vaccines to reduce the prevalence of illnesses.

” This campaign is going to be an integrated campaign and as such we involved the commitment of our Traditional and religious leaders as relevant stakeholders to mobilize support at various levels.

“The Zamfara State council of chiefs are to fully participate in the mobilization campaign while Islamic clerics are to mobilize support through their daily and Fridays sermons in their respective places of worship.

“The state government is fully prepared for the exercise and committed to mobilize all the necessary resources and personnel for the success of the programme. The first lady said.