FIC Report (Nasarawa State) – The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has appealed to parents and stakeholders in the health sector to disregard misinformation campaigns against the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, assuring that it is safe and vital for protecting children’s lives.
Speaking during a media roundtable dialogue in Nasarawa State, the Director of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abubakar Ibrahim, called on all stakeholders to take the lead in promoting accurate information about immunization and to support efforts to prevent childhood diseases.
Ibrahim explained that the introduction of the Measles-Rubella vaccine and the ongoing Polio Eradication Campaign aim to correct misconceptions that vaccines are designed to reduce the population of Nigerians or Africans, emphasizing instead that they are crucial tools for saving lives.
In her presentation, UNICEF Coordinator in Kaduna State, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, urged the media to play a frontline role in the vaccination campaign by focusing on integrating the MR vaccine as a core part of the ongoing health initiative. She encouraged journalists to use their platforms to educate parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders on the benefits of vaccination for children aged nine months to fourteen years.
Mohammed also appealed for increased outreach to rural communities through human-interest stories and public engagement that emphasize routine immunization as a key strategy for eliminating measles, rubella, and other childhood diseases.
Participants at the dialogue acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in eradicating poliovirus but expressed concern that the country still records one of the highest numbers of “zero-dose” children globally—those who have never received any vaccine. They noted that measles continues to claim young lives, while misinformation fuels vaccine hesitancy, especially against the Measles-Rubella vaccine.
According to the meeting’s resolution, the integration of the MR vaccine into Nigeria’s national immunization schedule will strengthen child health protection and help achieve set targets during the immunization campaign scheduled for October 6–14.
“This historic campaign aims to protect children and pregnant women from life-threatening diseases. The vaccine is safe, government-funded, and available free of charge for all children between nine months and fourteen years,” the statement emphasized.
The forum also highlighted the vital role of the media in countering false narratives, promoting trust in science, and encouraging parents to ensure every child is vaccinated. Journalists were urged to use their platforms to dispel myths, inspire community participation, and spotlight local champions of immunization, noting that “vaccines only save lives when every child is reached.”
Over 1,372,251 children aged nine months to fourteen years are expected to be immunized during the Integrated Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign in Nasarawa State. The exercise will be officially flagged off by Governor Abdullahi Sule on Monday, October 6, in Akwanga, and will run for seven days across all 13 local government areas of the state.
Signed
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
HEAD OF CENTRE,
FIC, LAFIA.
