Measles, also known as Rubella or red measles is a very contagious viral disease.
It is an airborne disease which spreads easily when an infected person coughs, sneezes or through contact with saliva or nasal secretions of an infected person.
Symptoms include high fever, running nose, sneezing, sore throat as well as red sore eyes.
Symptoms include high fever, running nose, sneezing, sore throat as well as red sore eyes.
The infection starts in the back of the ears and thereafter moves to the head and neck before spreading to most part of the body, often causing severe itching.
According to United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF, no fewer than one hundred and twelve children in the country have died of measles outbreak since 2015.
Also, over twenty thousand suspected cases were recorded across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja in the year under review.
Findings revealed that infected person spread the virus before exhibiting the symptoms, with 30% cases of complications reported include diarrhoea, blindness, inflammation of the brain and pneumonia.
Globally measles remains a major cause of death among children under five years of age despite the availability of an effective vaccine.
It is noteworthy that in Nigeria there has been an anti-measles campaign nationwide targeting all children from 9 months to 59 months.
The campaign, which comes up every 2 years, is expected to achieve 95% coverage at the national level for the country to reach the elimination goal by 2020,
this is because measles is preventable through early vaccination.
this is because measles is preventable through early vaccination.
In developing countries like Nigeria where measles is endemic, World Health Organization, W.H.O, recommended that two doses of measles vaccine be given to children at nine months to five years of age.
Despite the importance of vaccination in fighting the disease, the outbreak of the disease in some parts of the country has once again brought the issue to the fore. To reduce the prevalence rate in the country, there is the need for a change of mindset as well as cultural and religious beliefs that lead to the rejection of the vaccination in some parts of the country.
It is also pertinent to sensitize parents on the need to take their children for routine immunization.
There should be increased funding and more routine public enlightenment to educate parents regularly on the importance of immunization.
Creation of access stations in communities where people are able to access the immunization throughout the year would assist in reducing the scourge of the disease in the country.
The recent outbreak is a wake-up call for health authorities on the need to take proactive measures to further check the spread of the disease especially by intensifying the early childhood vaccination campaign.
Getting vaccinated is not only saving oneself but others from contracting disease that do not recognise boundaries, rights or status.
N.B:
Please note that the measles vaccination campaign for children from ages 9 months to 5 years which started on the 28th of January 2016 in all states across the federation would end on the 1st of February 2016. Ensure all children in your localities are vaccinated against measles. Vaccination would be done in all government health facilities and vaccination posts.
Ensure you keep your children's vaccination card in safe place.
A healthier nation is possible, it begins with you.
