Calabar: Cross River has recorded high acceptance of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, driven by school sensitisation, community mobilisation, and coordinated efforts by health workers, government agencies, and development partners. The campaign, part of Nigeria’s national effort to eliminate measles and rubella, is being implemented across all 18 local government areas of the state, targeting children aged nine months to 14 years.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr Vivien Mesembe-Otu, Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), attributed the campaign’s success to strong collaboration among stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, the media, and relevant government ministries. Mrs Mary Edet, a community health worker in Calabar Municipality, emphasized the commitment of frontline workers who worked closely with community structures to ensure no eligible child was missed. She noted that there have been no reports of side eff
ects among the children, and that mobilisation efforts were largely community-driven.
At Anointed Children International School, Head Teacher Mrs Teresa Kenneth confirmed that parental consent was largely obtained, with only one case of refusal. She credited the high acceptance to awareness efforts by state and local governments, as well as official communication from health centres to schools, which helped parents understand the importance of the vaccination exercise.
Mrs Arit Ewifon-Eso, Focal Person at Edim-Otop Ward 2, highlighted the benefits of the new measles-rubella vaccine, noting its significant contribution to reducing measles cases in the state. Meanwhile, Mrs Mary Etam, a petty trader, expressed her commitment to ensuring her child completes the vaccination schedule, emphasizing the importance of following through with the vaccinations.
Dr Hilary Ozoh, Social Behaviour Specialist at UNICEF Field Office, praised the campaign’s success, noting the active participation of the community. He observ
ed that in some cases, children even sought out the vaccination on their own, and there was virtually no rejection. He also commended the readiness of health workers and the availability of vaccines, describing Cross River as a modern state in terms of vaccine acceptance, especially for campaigns like measles.