FG says 2011 measles vaccination exercise to gulp N2.7bn
The death toll from a cholera outbreak in Bauchi and Borno has risen to 231 while 4,600 others have been infected, health minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said on Thursday.
“As of two or three days ago, the figure we have in the federal ministry of health was that 4,600 people have been infected with cholera in some states of the federation, out of which 231 have died,” he said in an interview on the Hausa service of the BBC, monitored in Kano.
Officials in Bauchi and Borno had earlier put the death toll at 107.
Cholera causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration. With a short incubation period, it can be fatal if not treated on time.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has disclosed its readiness to spend N2.7 billion in immunising children against measles in 2011.
Of this amount, N2.1 billion is to be used in purchasing vaccines and syringes while an estimated N0.6 billion is to be spent mobilising transportation, personnel, data materials and logistics required for the operation.
Onyebuchi Chukwu, minister of health, who disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting on Integrated Measles Campaign in Abuja, said measles partnership will be providing 50 percent of the total amount, adding that there will be no justification for government not to provide the remaining balance.
He said the initiative is aimed at averting outbreak of vaccines preventable diseases and reviving the routine immunisation system.
Mohammed Pate, executive director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said that during the campaign scheduled for January and February 2011 other health interventions will be provided for citizens.
“It is an integrated campaign of measles as well as polio; the eligible for measles will be 9 months-5 years while polio is zero-month to five years. All of those eligible children for both antigens will get those antigens during the campaign… and it is not only measles vaccines that we will issue, it is also an opportunity to give some other health interventions such as bed nets, soaps for hand washing, information to mothers and vitamin A. So we will use the opportunity to fortify the resistance of our children”, he stressed.
Declaring the event open, the minister, represented by Linus Awute, permanent secretary of the ministry, lamented the damage the scourges pose to development, while stressing commitment to avert the situation despite impeding challenges in the sector.
He, therefore, urged the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 774 local government areas (LGAs), traditional rulers and stakeholders to support the cause and revive the system of routine immunisation, adding that this will prevent the nation from falling into an avoidable calamity.
The minister explained that “it will cost us less than N100 approximately to save a child from measles and in doing this we will not only be saving life but will be saving enormous resources and family income that would have gone into treating the child if he or she comes down with measles”.
“The wakeup call is to attain and maintain routine coverage greater than 90 percent because the campaigns are only stops gaps”, he added.
While commending traditional rulers for their efforts at fighting the scourge, the minister urged them to bring their experience to bear on strengthening routine immunisation system and ensuring that every child is vaccinated against measles and other antigens routinely and during campaigns.
Speaking at the event, Peter Eriki, World Health Organisation’s (WHO) representative in Nigeria, restated commitment to support the government in promoting and protecting the health of citizens.
MARY ALIYU
“As of two or three days ago, the figure we have in the federal ministry of health was that 4,600 people have been infected with cholera in some states of the federation, out of which 231 have died,” he said in an interview on the Hausa service of the BBC, monitored in Kano.
Officials in Bauchi and Borno had earlier put the death toll at 107.
Cholera causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration. With a short incubation period, it can be fatal if not treated on time.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has disclosed its readiness to spend N2.7 billion in immunising children against measles in 2011.
Of this amount, N2.1 billion is to be used in purchasing vaccines and syringes while an estimated N0.6 billion is to be spent mobilising transportation, personnel, data materials and logistics required for the operation.
Onyebuchi Chukwu, minister of health, who disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting on Integrated Measles Campaign in Abuja, said measles partnership will be providing 50 percent of the total amount, adding that there will be no justification for government not to provide the remaining balance.
Mohammed Pate, executive director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said that during the campaign scheduled for January and February 2011 other health interventions will be provided for citizens.
“It is an integrated campaign of measles as well as polio; the eligible for measles will be 9 months-5 years while polio is zero-month to five years. All of those eligible children for both antigens will get those antigens during the campaign… and it is not only measles vaccines that we will issue, it is also an opportunity to give some other health interventions such as bed nets, soaps for hand washing, information to mothers and vitamin A. So we will use the opportunity to fortify the resistance of our children”, he stressed.
Declaring the event open, the minister, represented by Linus Awute, permanent secretary of the ministry, lamented the damage the scourges pose to development, while stressing commitment to avert the situation despite impeding challenges in the sector.
He, therefore, urged the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 774 local government areas (LGAs), traditional rulers and stakeholders to support the cause and revive the system of routine immunisation, adding that this will prevent the nation from falling into an avoidable calamity.
The minister explained that “it will cost us less than N100 approximately to save a child from measles and in doing this we will not only be saving life but will be saving enormous resources and family income that would have gone into treating the child if he or she comes down with measles”.
“The wakeup call is to attain and maintain routine coverage greater than 90 percent because the campaigns are only stops gaps”, he added.
While commending traditional rulers for their efforts at fighting the scourge, the minister urged them to bring their experience to bear on strengthening routine immunisation system and ensuring that every child is vaccinated against measles and other antigens routinely and during campaigns.
Speaking at the event, Peter Eriki, World Health Organisation’s (WHO) representative in Nigeria, restated commitment to support the government in promoting and protecting the health of citizens.
MARY ALIYU
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