Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has inaugurated the state’s first integrated measles-rubella campaign, designed to deliver six major health interventions simultaneously across all 17 local government areas.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Friday in Damaturu, Mr Buni said the campaign, scheduled to be held from October 28 to November 1, 2025, was aimed at combating preventable diseases and improving the well-being of women and children.

Mr Buni, represented by Baba Malam-Wali, the secretary to the state government, said the campaign was historic.

“This campaign is unique and historic, the first of its kind in Nigeria—delivering six key health interventions by vaccination teams across all communities and settlements in Yobe,” Mr Buni said.

He explained that measles and rubella remained serious childhood diseases that could cause blindness, deafness, pneumonia, and even death, while rubella infection in pregnant women could lead to severe birth defects.

“The introduction of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine is a critical step in ensuring that our children are protected from these preventable illnesses,” he added.

The governor urged caregivers and mothers to bring their children for vaccination, emphasising that the vaccines were safe, effective, and essential for a healthy future generation.

Mr Buni reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, noting that government investments in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities were yielding positive results.

“Our administration will continue to prioritise healthcare delivery to improve the lives of women, children, and all residents of Yobe State,” he said.

Under the campaign, the state will provide measles-rubella vaccination for children aged nine months to 14 years, polio vaccination for children aged zero to 59 months, and routine immunisation for those under two years.

Others include seasonal malaria chemoprevention for children aged three to 59 months, insecticide-treated net distribution to all households, and tetanus toxoid vaccination for women of childbearing age.

In his remarks, Babagana Machina, executive secretary of the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board, said Yobe was selected alongside Kano, Akwa Ibom, and Oyo States to implement the model due to the state’s strong political will, functional health structures, and impressive immunisation coverage in previous campaigns.

“This initiative demonstrates Yobe’s leadership in public health innovation. If successful, this integrated approach will be adopted in other parts of Nigeria and beyond,” Mr Machina said.

He called on traditional and religious leaders to mobilise their communities to embrace the exercise, describing it as a “life-saving intervention that will secure the health and future of our children.”

Mr Machina commended Mr Buni for his sustained support to the health sector and expressed appreciation to partners for their technical and financial assistance.

The integrated exercise was a collaborative effort between the Yobe Government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Ministry of Health, and development partners, including UNICEF and WHO. 

(NAN)