PHC Damangaza and the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) arranged a one-day outreach program in Abuja where James Budebo, Head of the Damangaza community, emphasized the value of immunization. With a special emphasis on measles, a highly common viral virus that can cause serious complications like pneumonia and encephalitis, the event sought to address the health situation in Damangaza. In order to stop measles outbreaks and safeguard the community, Budebo underlined the importance of mass vaccination campaigns.
According to VNDC CEO Mrs. Chika Offor, the outreach’s goals were to dispel myths, increase vaccine accessibility, and offer both short-term assistance and long-term resilience. In order to empower the community, health worker Ms. Longtang Shawen emphasized the value of Education on diseases that may be prevented by vaccination, sanitation, and cleanliness. Chief Bello Musa stated that Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu, the FCT epidemiologist, planned to look into the matter after informing the Public Health Department of the FCT of the issue. By December 2023, a number of states, including Abia, Anambra, and Lagos, reported having a high number of measles cases, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). Borno, Yobe, and Ogun contributed considerably to the 19,470 suspected cases that year.
Effective vaccination programs and public health initiatives are required.
A significant fraction of these instances involved unvaccinated children between the ages of 9 and 59 months. The NCDC data made clear that in order to contain measles outbreaks in Nigeria, effective vaccination programs and public health initiatives are required. As part of the outreach campaign, immunizations were given, cleanliness and measles education was given, and myths regarding Vaccines were debunked via informational handouts. There were about 200 community members that took part, and the immediate results included a little increase in vaccine acceptance and greater awareness.
Health professionals stressed how critical it is to overcome vaccine reluctance. “Vaccine hesitancy stems from Misinformation and cultural beliefs,” Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu clarified. To alter views, community involvement and education are essential.” Community discussions, enlisting the support of local leaders in lobbying, and maintaining a steady supply of vaccines are all methods to increase vaccination uptake. Regular immunization drives, ongoing health education programs, and the creation of a community health committee to keep an eye on health issues and act quickly are all planned follow-up initiatives.
There has been a noticeable rise in the number of confirmed measles cases.
In order to develop community trust and support for public health efforts, long-term tactics include bolstering the healthcare infrastructure, enhancing access to medical services, and encouraging ongoing community engagement. There has been a noticeable rise in the number of suspected and confirmed measles cases in Nigeria when comparing statistics from 2021 to 2023. Suspected cases grew from 12,841 in 2021 to 19,470 in 2023, while confirmed cases went from 7,928 to 11,433 in 2021. Children between the ages of 9 and 59 months continue to be the most afflicted age group, accounting for nearly 60% of verified cases during this time.
The rise in cases indicates that vaccination coverage is still inadequate despite continuous efforts, especially in high-risk states like Borno and Yobe that continuously record the greatest number of cases. The proportion of confirmed infections among those who have not received a vaccination (referred to as “zero dose”) has stayed comparatively constant at 71–73 percent, suggesting ongoing difficulties with vaccine uptake. The information shows that despite attempts to contain the measles outbreaks through vaccination drives and public health initiatives, the number of cases has increased despite these efforts.
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This emphasizes the need for more potent approaches, such as expanding public awareness campaigns to overcome vaccination hesitancy, increasing vaccine accessibility, and fortifying the healthcare system to guarantee better coverage and prompt responses to outbreaks. The need for persistent and increased efforts to attain higher vaccination rates is highlighted by the recurrent outbreaks and rising case counts, especially in underserved and high-risk areas. This entails working with local authorities and influencers to encourage vaccination, making sure there is a steady supply of vaccinations, and resolving any logistical issues that prevent the administration and distribution of vaccines.