Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has endorsed the Federal Government/Gavi immunization campaign to eliminate measles-rubella to be launched in October this year, urging people of the state to cue into the initiative towards safeguarding the lives of children.
Governor Sule endorsed the vaccination campaign at a ceremony at the Government House, after the Executive Secretary Nasarawa Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Usman Iskilu led officials of Centre for the Wellbeing and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS) and Her Excellency, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule along with wives of local government councils chairmen paid him an advocacy visit on Friday.
While strongly endorsing the measles-rubella vaccine to be introduced by the Federal Government, State Government and development partners in October, the Governor emphasized that his administration accords topmost priority to the health and wellbeing of the people, especially children.
“I strongly endorse the measles-rubella vaccine to be introduced by the Federal Government, the state government and development partners in October, 2025. Measles and rubella are highly contagious that can cause deafness, blindness, heart defects, brain damage and even death in children.
“Thankfully, the measles-rubella vaccine provides safe and effective protection. I urge all parents, guardians and care givers to ensure that children aged 9 months to 15 years receive this lifesaving vaccine during this campaign,” he stated.
He reiterated that vaccination not only protects children but also strengthens both the economy and the healthcare system of the state.
Governor Sule assured that his administration would make the vaccine available and accessible, further urging caregivers, traditional, religious leaders, community influencers to support the campaign.
“In line with the renewed hope agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu our government is committed to making this vaccine available and accessible. I call on our traditional, religious leaders, health workers, community influencers to support this campaign to ensure full coverage. Together we can eliminate measles-rubella from Nasarawa State,” he said.
Governor Sule pointed out that no amount of money is too much to provide the health needs of the people of the state, recalling the earlier efforts of his administration to partner with Gavi towards setting up a vaccine production factory in the state.
“We are not the richest state but we are one state that is rich in our commitment. Our commitment is to ensure that all these little children that have come to the world through Nasarawa State are given the proper care to develop soundly. We are so committed to vaccination to the extend that we are thinking of Gavi setting up a vaccines production factory in Nasarawa State,” he said.
The Governor mandated the officials of the Nasarawa Primary Health Care Development Agency to picked up the matter, adding that Nasarawa State is willijg to enter into a PPP arrangement with Gavi, provide a land and other things so that the state would be part of the factory.
He commended both the healthcare workers, as well as wives of local government chairmen for embarking on advocacy ahead of the official launch of the new vaccine in October.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Usman Iskilu, Executive Secretary, Nasarawa Primary Health Care Development Agency, said the Governor has clearly demonstrated his love and care for children in the state by endorsing the campaign for vaccination.
The Executive Secretary described measles-rubella as a viral disease that affects children and could lead to deafness, blindness, heart defect and brain damage which is hard to manage.
“The only safe way is to have routine immunization for Measles-Rubella vaccines. Your Excellency, we cannot just go and start giving children vaccines without advocacy. Already we have started under the leadership of Her Excellency the First Lady of the state. We have gone round to meet the traditional rulers in their palaces across the three senatorial districts of the state in order to have a successful immunization advocacy ” Iskilu said.
Consultant for the vaccination programme, Dr Isah Vatsa, gave an indepth overview of the programme by underscoring the benefits inherent in the administration of the two-in-one measles-rubella vaccine for effective protection of children against the dreaded contagious disease in Nasarawa state.
