Measles-Rubella Vaccination: Health Board Embarked on Road Show to Sensitize Yenagoa Residents
The Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board has embarked on a road show to sensitize residents of the state on the importance of the Measles–Rubella vaccination.
The awareness campaign, aimed at improving immunization uptake and protecting children from preventable diseases, commenced from Igbogene, moved through Kpansia Market, and ended at Oxbow Lake in the Swali area of Yenagoa.
Speaking during the road show, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Williams Appah, stressed that measles and rubella remain serious public health concerns, particularly among children, and can be prevented through timely vaccination.
He explained that the Measles–Rubella vaccines are available for children from 9 months to 15 months, urging parents and caregivers to take advantage of the exercise to safeguard the health of their children.
Dr. Appah also disclosed that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is available for girls aged 14 years, noting that the vaccine plays a crucial role in preventing cervical cancer later in life.
He encouraged parents to support the initiative by ensuring eligible girls receive the HPV vaccine.
Speaking on behalf of the Women Organized for Mentorship and Advocacy Network (WOMAN), the Executive Director, Lady Eunice Nnachi, commended the Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board for taking immunization awareness directly to the people.
She emphasized that women, especially mothers and caregivers, play a critical role in protecting children’s health and encouraged parents to embrace routine immunization as a responsibility, not an option.
Lady Nnachi noted that community-based sensitization helps to dispel myths and misinformation about vaccines, assuring residents that the Measles–Rubella and HPV vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for securing a healthier future for children in Bayelsa State.
The road show recorded the participation of key civil society organizations, including the Eunice Nnachi Women Advocacy Foundation (ENWAF) and members of the groups joined health officials in mobilizing residents, distributing information, and creating awareness on the benefits of routine immunization.
Residents were urged to cooperate with health workers and make their children available for vaccination, as the exercise is safe, free, and vital to improving child survival and overall public health in Bayelsa State.
