By Stanley Okafor
The Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EKSPHCDA) on Friday has engaged the Private School Owners in the state on Measles and Rubella Vaccination.
The Agency made the advocacy visit in Ado-Ekiti, during the 2024/25 session general meeting of Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Ekiti State Chapter.
The State Health Educator of the Agency, Olajumoke Oguntoye said the advocacy visit was necessary in order to introduce the Measles and Rubella Vaccines to critical stakeholders capable of convincing Parents and Custodians of the target audience which include children between 9 months and 14 years.
She stressed that the visit was a continuity of the initiative launched by Ekiti State First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, in order to eradicate Measles and Rubella diseases among children of the state.
Oguntoye reiterated the commitment of the Agency towards ensuring better and secured lives for the children, who according to her are formidable tools of reshaping the country.
She also clarified the controversies surrounding the vaccine, explaining that the medical practice make the Children immune to diseases and help them prevent possible viruses.
Her words, “We are here today to pay advocacy visit and sensitise the Association of Private School Owners in Ekiti State, to introduce Measles, Rubella Vaccine that has been launched by Her Excellency, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji on May 3, 2025.
“In continuity with this advocacy, we need to see all the relevant stakeholders in Ekiti State because of the target age that we are going to capture (9 months – 14 years).
“We decided to inform these stakeholders, educational stakeholders, school owners, so that they will help us to pass the key information about Measles and Rubella. and the importance of this vaccine to their parents”.
The Ekiti State Cold Chain Officer in charge of the vaccine, Bamisaye Tuyi Abiodun said the height of the State in Health ranking can be attributed to the efforts of caregivers, who have been supporting the government through the adoption of immunization and other medical practices.
He called for the cooperation of the stakeholders, saying this would enable the state to be free from Measles and Rubella diseases.
“If we are marked in health indices across the nation, Ekiti state has been ranked first because of the diligent work of caregivers, if the vaccine is brought to schools, let us allow our wards to take it in order to avoid those diseases. Let’s cooperate with our team and with the government of the state”. He said.
On his part, Chairman, Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Ekiti State Chapter, Joshua Aladejare promised to disseminate the information among Parents and Guardians, while also calling for robust relationship between the Association and the State’s Ministry of Health.
This according to him, would enable the Association to convince the Parents more on the need to embrace any medical intervention emanating from the State Government.
