First Lady Olufolake AbdulRazaq urges parents to ensure full participation as state targets 1.8 million children in 10-day health drive
The Kwara State Government has launched an integrated vaccination campaign against Measles-Rubella and Polio to safeguard children from life-threatening diseases.
The 10-day exercise, which begins on Saturday, October 11, 2025, aims to reach at least 1.8 million children across the state. Children aged 9 months to 14 years will receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine, while those aged 0 to 5 years will be given the oral polio vaccine.
The campaign, organised by the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), was flagged off on Thursday in Ilorin.
Kwara’s First Lady, Ambassador Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, described the vaccination drive as a life-saving initiative that reflects the state’s commitment to child health and family wellbeing.
“This initiative is not just a policy milestone but a life-saving intervention for our children and families,” she said. “I urge all parents and guardians to present their children for vaccination.”
She explained that Nigeria’s low vaccination coverage, with only 60 percent of children receiving the first dose of measles vaccine and 38 percent getting the second, has contributed to frequent outbreaks. The introduction of the Measles-Rubella vaccine, she noted, would help close this gap and protect more children.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Taoheed, called the campaign a transformative public health effort and urged stakeholders to raise awareness and overcome any barriers to vaccination.
Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Professor Nusirat Elelu, said over 8,600 trained health workers, supervisors, and security personnel have been deployed for the exercise.
“Measles remains one of the most contagious and fatal viral diseases affecting children worldwide, despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines,” she said, noting that global vaccination efforts have averted over 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023.
She warned that Rubella poses serious risks to pregnant women and unborn babies, stressing that immunization, antenatal services, and non-complicated deliveries remain free in all primary healthcare centres across the state.
Professor Elelu praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi for their support, and thanked the First Lady for her consistent advocacy for maternal and child health.
Representatives of WHO, UNICEF, and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency all reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and encouraged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams.
The event was attended by top government officials, traditional rulers, lawmakers, and community leaders who pledged to support the campaign and help ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.
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