By Abdulkareem Haruna

Maiduguri, Nigeria — Borno State has launched a crucial, week-long mass immunization campaign aimed at protecting thousands of its youngest residents from a battery of preventable diseases, including measles, rubella, polio, and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

The integrated campaign was formally inaugurated on Monday in Maiduguri by the wife of the State Governor, Dr. Falmata Zulum, who emphasized the urgency of the public health initiative.

Addressing mothers and caregivers at the flag-off ceremony, Dr. Zulum issued a strong call for participation, urging them to bring children and teenagers between the ages of nine months and 14 years to vaccination sites.

A child being vaccinated in Maiduguri

“Measles and rubella are very dangerous diseases but are preventable,” Dr. Zulum declared. “I urge all mothers and caregivers to immunize their children. The vaccine is very safe and it’s free.”

In a symbolic move, she personally administered vaccines to several children and distributed gifts to nursing mothers present, underscoring the government’s commitment to the program.

Significant Progress Against Measles
The current campaign builds on years of intensive efforts to combat high rates of vaccine-preventable illnesses in the state.
Prof. Mohammed Arab Alhaji, Executive Secretary of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board (PHCDB), highlighted the state’s significant progress in tackling measles, a persistent health challenge.

A vaccination center in Maiduguri community

“Some years ago, this state contributed over 60 percent of the measles burden in Nigeria,” Prof. Alhaji noted with concern. He quickly followed up with an encouraging statistic, expressing relief that consistent, periodic vaccination drives have succeeded in dramatically cutting that figure down to just nine percent.

“This campaign represents a major step in our collective move to improve the health sector and health of our youths,” he added. “Immunization saves lives and protects the future of our communities.”

Prof. Alhaji extended gratitude to the state’s international partners, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, whose support he credited as instrumental to the success of the vaccination drives.

Speaking on behalf of the partners, Dr. Marie Marcos, Officer-in-Charge and Chief of the UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, reaffirmed the global body’s commitment to improving child health outcomes in the region, ensuring continued support for future initiatives.