Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has called on parents and guardians across the state to embrace the ongoing measles and rubella vaccination campaign to protect children from preventable diseases.
Speaking at the Local Government Training Centre, Ibadan, during the flag-off of a sensitisation programme on Tuesday, Mrs Makinde urged communities to “take deliberate actions to prevent diseases associated with children.”
She was joined by wives of the state’s 33 local government chairmen and other stakeholders, who pledged to spread awareness in every community.
Addressing the gathering, Mrs Makinde appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, health workers, and community heads to mobilise support for the vaccination effort, which aligns with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.
“We must stand together to protect our children’s future,” she said. After the event, the governor’s wife led stakeholders in a symbolic march to the office of Gov. Seyi Makinde, where the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to eradicating measles and rubella in Oyo State.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, highlighted the urgency of the vaccination drive, noting that measles remains a major killer of young children globally despite the availability of safe vaccines.
“Our resolve as a government is clear: that no child in Oyo State should suffer or die from vaccine-preventable diseases,” Ajetunmobi said.
She urged parents to allow health workers to administer the vaccines, emphasising that the campaign targets children aged nine months to 15 years across all 33 local government areas.
