Akwa-Ibom to immunise 800,000 children against measles
The Akwa Ibom Government says it will immunise 800,000 children during the forthcoming immunisation campaign against measles believed to be one of the most infectious diseases.
It said the figure represents 95 percent of the children population in the state noting however that 84.5 percent was covered in the 2016 immunisation exercise.
Dominic Ukpong, a medical doctor and commissioner for health who made this known in Uyo, the state capital said a total of 195 cases of the disease was reported in 2017 describing the exercise as a follow up campaign aimed at mass immunisation conducted every 2-4 years following catch up campaigns with the purpose of reducing any build-up of susceptible children born since the previous measles immunisation campaign.
According to him, the timing of the measles follow up campaign depends on the rate of accumulation of susceptible which he said is determined by the routine immunisation coverage and the coverage during the previous catch up and follow up campaigns.
Represented by Imeh Udoh, state immunisation officer, he said the exercise which begins March 1 would be carried out in two phases to cover the 31 local government areas of the state while attributing the outbreak of measles to the accumulation of children disposed to measles virus.
He explained that several factors including low routine immunisation coverage was also responsible for measles outbreak adding that with proper administration at 9 months of age, measles vaccines would grant lifelong protection to approximately 85 percent of those vaccinated, leaving 15 percent unprotected.
The health commissioner said the first phase would begin on 1st March to 6th while the second phase would commence from 8th March to 13th March.
According to him, the campaign places would include temporary fixed posts such as schools, churches, mosques, traditional leaders houses, ,motor parks and hard to reach areas and other places identified as vaccination posts,
He said immunisation would be provided in the sites for “either the duration of the campaign or partially depending on the target population density.”
A total of 17 local government areas including Essien Udim, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene, Oruk Anam, Uyo, Ibeno, Ika, Itu, Onna, Etim Ekpo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Udung Uko, Uruan, Abak, Eket while the second phase would include Mbo, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Ukanafun, Eastern Obolo, Ikono, Ini, Mkpat Enin, Obot Akara, Oron, Nsit Atai, Esit Eket, Urue Offong/Oruko and Okobo local government areas.
While thanking development partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the federal government for the support towards the exercise, he appealed to the media to create demand for immunisation service and possible awareness and positive attitude towards immunisation to counter rumours maintaining that the exercise is free and safe
According to experts, prior to the availability of measles vaccine, measles infected over 90% of children before they reached 15 years of age.
These infections were estimated to cause more than two million deaths and about 60,000 cases of blindness annually worldwide. The highly effective, safe and Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) protects individuals from the infection, and their widespread use can completely stop the spread of the viruses in populations that achieve and maintain high levels of vaccination coverage.
The early symptoms of measles start after a 10- to 14-day incubation period that follows exposure is the prodromal stage which lasts 2 to 4 days and characterized by the onset of high grade fever, malaise, cough, conjunctivitis and runny nose. Koplik spots may appear on the buccal mucosa 1 to 2 days before the onset of a rash and may be observed for an additional 1 to 2 days after rash onset. This koplik may appear before the prodromal stage and is detected by a clinician.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo