First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Monday officially launched the much-anticipated Measles-Rubella Vaccine Introduction Integrated Campaign.
The integrated campaign is the largest health initiative in Africa’s history aimed at immunising millions of children and adolescents against measles, rubella and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Speaking at the national flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the First Lady said the campaign is a bold step towards protecting the lives and the future of Nigerian children.
“This flag-off signals a collective national resolve to end the devastation caused by measles and rubella. These diseases steal the future of our sons and daughters.
“Measles can cause blindness, permanent disability, and in too many cases, death. Its twin disease, rubella, though often silent, is equally harmful, especially to unborn children of infected pregnant women who may be born with blindness, deafness, or serious heart defects,” she said.
The First Lady highlighted the profound consequences of these diseases, not only on families but on communities and the nation itself.
She urged Nigerians to embrace the vaccine wholeheartedly, stressing that “a vaccine in a vial does not save a child.”
“A vaccine in a clinic does not protect a community. Protection only becomes real when that vaccine is injected into the arm of a child.
“Mothers, take your children to be vaccinated. Fathers, support your wives and families to ensure your children are protected. To our revered traditional rulers and religious leaders, your voices carry immense weight—use your influence to spread the truth, dispel rumors, and ensure no child is left behind,” she said.
She expressed appreciation for the pivotal roles traditional and religious leaders played in the successful rollout of the HPV vaccine.
“These vaccines are safe, effective, and free. They are among the greatest gifts of modern medicine, saving lives, preventing disease, and allowing our children the chance to grow, learn, and thrive,” she said.
The official flag off set into motion a nationwide drive expected to reach approximately 106 million children aged 9 months to under 15 years in two phases.
The campaign also integrates vaccination efforts against polio and the rollout of the HPV vaccine among adolescent girls, combining resources to optimise health impact.
The campaign, which targets children aged nine months to 14 years, aligns with international best practices and Nigeria’s commitments under the Immunisation Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.
It represents a bold national strategy to eliminate measles and rubella, improve school attendance, and secure the nation’s future.
