Posted on: Tue 15-12-2020

Aware that single dose of measles immunization is not enough to attain 95% coverage  which is need to build the immunity of the child, the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency ( TSPHCDA) is stakeholders on the introduction of measles second dose for children. 

The senigization exercise which took place in one the multipurpose hall of the doctors house, located in Jalingo,  Taraba state,  as noticed by our correspondent brought together stakeholders from the two major religious,  security chiefs , education sector,  media among others 

The immunization which in the past used to be administered to children from  0 months to 9 months, was observed to  have been extended from  0 month to fifteen months.

The development which came from the federal government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with States Primary Health Care Development Agency spread across the country and the AFENET measles,  was said to have been geared at boosting the immunity of children spread across the country. 

The meeting agency who was supported by  the United Nations Children's Fund engaged the services of the stakeholders on a round table dialogue to fine tune ways on how to make the newly introduced measles second dose to be  accepted by the people .

 Solicited for continued sensitization of community on the importance of the introduced of the second dose, the leadership of the aforementioned organizations who believed that single dose of measles "is no longer protecting our children from Measles " said the introduction of the second dose would go a long to prevent children from dying from preventable diseases. 

Stressing that measles second dose has come to say, as it has been incorporated in the routine immunizations, the need for the stakeholders as well as the media to help in conveying the message to care givers, they believed have become necessary. 

Accepting that "the second dose would go a long way to "give protection to children" the dose, as unanimously made known by them "is safe" stating that it has no negative effects on the children. 

 

Pic of the stakeholders sensitization on newly introduced measles second dose 

Urging the people irrespective of religious and cultural belief to take advantage of the already ongoing exercise by taking their eligible children and wards to the health facilities nearer to them, AFENET measles consultant,  Dr. Phillip Igawe, who noted that the north have more death cases of under five "because it measles " said the introduced measles second dose boost immunity with almost 10% to protect us."

Also aligning her weight to that of the consultant,  the State Health Educator, Mercy Maigoge,  said relevant strategies to ensured that all eligible children are brought to the facilities close to them have been fashioned our by the agency. 

Elated by the massive turned out of stakeholders which includes security chiefs,  faith base organizations,  media to mention but just a few,  the Executive Secretary of the TSPHCDA,  Alhaji Aminu Hassan Jauro,  who spoke through the Director,  Community Health, Zekari Chindo, said the agency on it parts would continue to collaborate with the UNICEF in order to ameliorate the plights of both women and children in the state. 

By Charles Akpeji 

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