The Ogun State Government has made a firm commitment to provide all necessary financial and logistical backing for a major statewide measles and rubella immunization campaign set to begin later this month.
Government Assures Prompt Release of Funds
During a crucial meeting of the State Task Force on Primary Health Care in Abeokuta, the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who chairs the task force, gave this assurance. She stated that a request for funding had already been submitted and expressed confidence in its prompt approval to ensure the campaign's success. "We are confident it will be approved promptly to enable us to meet our responsibilities in this very intensive exercise," Salako-Oyedele affirmed.
The deputy governor praised the State Ministry of Health, various health sector stakeholders, and development partners like UNICEF for their sustained support. She specifically noted the provision of ambulance boats to improve healthcare access in riverine communities. Salako-Oyedele also reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Dapo Abiodun's administration to all primary healthcare initiatives.
Campaign Details and Ambitious Targets
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, provided detailed plans for the exercise. The measles-rubella immunization campaign is scheduled to run for 10 days, from January 27 to February 5, 2026.
In a significant move, the campaign will target a wide age range: all children from nine months to 14 years old. Dr. Ogunsola described this as one of the most extensive age-range vaccination exercises ever conducted in the state. To achieve full coverage, over 8,000 health workers will be deployed across multiple locations including schools, health facilities, and communities.
Call for Community Mobilization and Partnership
Deputy Governor Salako-Oyedele called on community and religious leaders to intensify public awareness efforts. She urged religious bodies, Community Development Associations (CDAs), women's groups, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the media to leverage their platforms, including social media and influencers, to effectively educate parents and young people about the campaign.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, in her welcome address, applauded the consistent collaboration of development partners and community-based organizations. She noted that the task force meeting served to review the state's primary healthcare progress and align strategies ahead of the massive immunization drive.
Dr. Ogunsola also presented a report highlighting the board's achievements and challenges in 2025. While most local government areas showed improvement in key health indicators, he acknowledged that some setbacks persisted, often due to gaps in infrastructure and logistics.
UNICEF Commits Continued Support
Speaking for development partners, a UNICEF representative, Mrs. Moloku, commended the Ogun State Government for its dedication to strengthening primary healthcare. She noted that this initiative aligns with the global goal of ending preventable diseases in Africa. Mrs. Moloku assured that UNICEF would continue to provide both technical and financial support to ensure the vaccination campaign is implemented successfully.
The government's pledge underscores a concerted effort to protect the health of Ogun State's children through a robust and well-supported public health intervention.
