The Benue State Government has launched a comprehensive vaccination campaign, targeting children in temporary Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, including the one housing Yelewata residents at the Makurdi International Market premises. Over 300 children have been vaccinated against Measles Rubella (MR) and Oral Polio Virus (OPV) to date.
The vaccination drive is part of a broader, integrated campaign aimed at protecting children from several preventable diseases, including measles, rubella, polio, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). According to Mrs. Benedicta Aboh, Chief Supervisor of the Integrated Vaccination Campaign Fixed Team, the immunisation exercise began on Saturday and has already seen over 250 children receive vaccinations on the first day alone.
The team provided routine immunisations for children aged 0–23 months, MR for those aged nine months to 14 years, OPV for children aged 0–59 months, HPV vaccines for girls aged nine years, treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC). Notably, there have been no recorded cases of vaccine refusal or zero-dose children so far, with the team planning additional rounds of immunisation due to the large turnout at the camp.
Benue State has received 2.7 million doses of MR vaccines and 2.3 million doses of OPV for the campaign, which is part of an integrated immunisation effort, including other routine vaccines. The State Immunisation Officer, Mr. Innocent Adega, stated that a total of 1,110 fixed teams and 1,274 sweep teams (house-to-house) have been deployed across the 23 Local Government Areas to ensure full coverage. The campaign is scheduled to run for 10 days, from October 18 to 27, with two extra days allocated for mop-up activities.
The exercise has been progressing effectively, with no major challenges encountered so far. The successful rollout of this campaign is crucial in protecting vulnerable children from preventable diseases, highlighting the importance of continued support and resources for public health initiatives in the region. As the vaccination drive continues, it is essential to maintain momentum and ensure that all eligible children receive the necessary vaccinations to prevent the spread of these diseases.