The Plateau State Government, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has launched a mass vaccination campaign aimed at immunising over 2.2 million children against measles and rubella.
The initiative, scheduled to run from October 18 to 27, 2025, will cover all 325 wards across the 17 local government areas of the state and will target children between 9 months and 14 years of age.
Speaking during a media engagement in Jos on Tuesday, Ndubuisi Ebita, WHO’s State Technical Assistant on Measles-Rubella, said the campaign is designed to close immunity gaps and strengthen disease prevention efforts.
“Measles remains one of the leading causes of childhood deaths globally, while rubella infection during pregnancy can lead to serious birth defects, including Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).
“This integrated campaign seeks to reduce CRS, curb transmission of measles and rubella, and strengthen routine immunisation across Plateau State”, Ebita explained.
Ebita commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for promptly releasing the state’s counterpart funding to support the programme and assured residents that strategies have been mapped out to ensure no child is left behind.
The State Director of Primary Health Care Board, Ladan Nanyak, emphasised the vaccine’s importance, warning that unvaccinated children remain highly vulnerable to severe health complications.
“Without vaccination, measles and rubella can cause visual impairment, hearing loss, heart defects, and lifelong disabilities. Prevention remains our best defence,” Nanyak said.
Also speaking, the State Health Educator, Rifkatu Dung, called on the media and community leaders to help dispel misinformation and sensitise parents about the benefits of the campaign.
According to him, “This vaccination drive is about protecting our children and securing Plateau’s future. We need everyone to participate and spread accurate information,” she stressed.
Health authorities urged parents, guardians, schools, and community groups to mobilise children for the vaccination, assuring residents that the vaccine is safe, free, and effective.
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