United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Niger government yesterday sought the collaboration of the media to create awareness about the upcoming measles rubella vaccination campaign.
Niger State Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana made the call in Minna during a media orientation on measles rubella vaccine introduction in the state.
The measles rubella vaccination campaign would be launched in the country in October for children from nine months old to 14 years.
Dangana, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Kpantu, the Immunisation Officer in Niger, said the objective of the meeting was to educate media practitioners and seek their collaboration for continuous sensitisation on the measles rubella vaccine.
“Measles and rubella are leading causes of death among children globally, with rubella having adverse effects on pregnant women.
“These effects are severe birth defects, miscarriage, still birth and premature delivery,” he said.
He explained that Nigeria contributed 37 per cent to the global burden of measles and rubella while Africa records 54 per cent for polio, with Nigeria being the second largest after Democratic Republic of Congo.
He explained that the campaign was being implemented to close immunity gaps, interrupt transmission and strengthen routine immunisation.
According to him, rubella is under documented due to limited surveillance with an estimated 100,000 babies born with congenital rubella syndrome each year globally.
“Rubella IgM+ cases in Nigeria as of 2025 is 461, which represents 10.8 per cent,” he added.
In her remarks, Mrs Grace Odeyemi, UNICEF State Lead in Niger, emphasised the need for the media to intensify awareness on the consequences of measles rubella as well as the benefits of the vaccine.
“The media plays a crucial role in promoting public health, ” she said.
She said the campaign is aimed at contributing to the reduction of measles and rubella incidences in Nigeria to less than five case per one million by 2026 and one case per one million by 2030.
Odeyemi appealed to the media to support the campaign by disseminating accurate information to the public.