Lagos Govt. calls for megaphones donation

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday called on corporate organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and well-meaning individuals to donate and support its 2018 Measles Vaccination Campaign (MVC) with megaphones.

Mrs Modupe Owojuyegbe, Director, Health Education, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, told newsmen in Lagos that the megaphone is an important communication tool to call out and mobilise people for the vaccination campaign.

“Measles is one of the leading illnesses of children under 5 years old in Nigeria, and in the previous measles campaign in 2015, Lagos State met 86.2 per cent out of the 95 per cent coverage target.

“This campaign is very important because we need to reach the nooks and crannies of the state.

“For this campaign, we require 4,526 megaphones, but so far, we have got 1310 and we require 3,216 megaphones to make up the required number for the town announcers.

“’The town announcers will be going round for child survival by calling out caregivers such as mothers and fathers to bring their children for vaccination.’’

She said that over 3.6 million children were being targeted in the Lagos State 2018 Mass Measles Campaign to protect enough children and reduce the burden.

“The Measles Campaign Vaccination is scheduled to start on March 15 and end on March 29, 2018 in all health facilities in the state and designated posts in communities, ” she said.

Owojuyegbe highlighted some of the activities lined up for the Measles campaign to include radio jingles, advocacy and community mobilisation through volunteers, religious leaders, ward heads and town announcers.

She said that the federal government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, was leading the exercise, supported by UNICEF, WHO, GAVI Alliance and other partners.

Owojuyegbe said the first phase of the campaign would hold in Alimosho, Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin and Ojo local government areas between March 15 and March 22.

According to her, the second stream will hold between March 22 and March 29 in Apapa, Badagry, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikeja, Ifako-Ijaiye, kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu and Surulere LGAs.

She appealed to parents and caregivers to ensure that all the children between nine months and five years were taken to the health posts for the measles vaccination.