Bayelsa State government will partner the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Funds, UNICEF and related agencies to fight against measles.
The Commissioner for Information Orientation and Strategy Hon. Ayeba Duba stated this during a courtesy call by officials of UNICEF, Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board and African Field Epidemiology Network, in his office in Yenagoa.
Hon. Duba who noted that it is part of the prosperity agenda of Governor Douye Diri to provide good health care services to the people of the State, assured UNICEF of the Ministry’s support in enlightening the public on the importance of measles vaccination to protect babies from brain damage or untimely death caused by the virus.
Earlier, Dr. Fashola Adebayo Matthew of African Field Epidemiology Network and Mrs. Evelyn Joseph of UNICEF in their separate remarks noted that measles is an infectious disease caused by morbillivirus or measles virus spread through airborne droplets from cough or sneeze of an infected child.
They therefore called on parents to ensure the timely vaccination of their babies to avoid contracting the virus, adding that they should take advantage of the forth coming measles campaigns slated for 27th November to 2nd December 2021 in the State, to immunise their children.
