Ogun First Lady Leads 2026 Measles–Rubella Vaccination Campaign Across the State

 




The Ogun State First Lady and Founder of the Ajose Foundation, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, has officially flagged off the 2026 Measles–Rubella vaccination campaign, aimed at immunising about three million children across the state.



The campaign, organised through the National and State Primary Healthcare Development Boards in collaboration with international partners, commenced at the Cinema Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. 

Key partners supporting the initiative include UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and FENET.



The vaccination exercise targets children aged nine months to 14 years, while routine immunisation services will continue for infants between nine and 15 months.


Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Mrs. Abiodun emphasised that measles and rubella are highly contagious diseases with serious health consequences, including pneumonia, brain damage, blindness and deafness. 

She added that rubella infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and severe birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome.



Citing statistics from the World Health Organization, the First Lady noted that although global measles-related deaths have declined by 88 per cent since 2000, an estimated 95,000 people mostly children lost their lives to the disease last year.

She described the campaign as a collective commitment to safeguarding the future of children, stressing that vaccination remains one of the safest, most effective and affordable public health interventions available worldwide.




In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said measles and rubella continue to rank among the leading causes of childhood mortality globally and pose serious risks to pregnant women. 

Dr Coker explained that outbreaks are more common in areas with low vaccination coverage, often resulting in severe complications and avoidable deaths.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Mariam Oloko, disclosed that the ministry had engaged all 20 Zonal Education Officers and sensitised parents to ensure children are presented for vaccination. 

Mrs Oloko urged school administrators and teachers to cooperate fully with health officials, stressing that prevention remains better than cure.

The WHO Representative, Dr. Laura Niclochlainn, commended health workers for their dedication and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to sustaining high vaccination coverage. 

She expressed optimism about the campaign’s success, describing the Ogun State exercise as the largest measles–rubella vaccination drive currently underway globally.

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