Bayelsa Govt Embarks On Roadshow To Sensitise Residents On Measles

Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board has embarked on a roadshow to educate residents about the importance of the Measles-Rubella vaccination. 

The awareness campaign, aimed at improving immunization uptake and protecting children from preventable diseases, commenced from Igbogene, moved through Kpansia Market, and concluded at Oxbow Lake in the Swali area of Yenagoa.

Speaking during the roadshow, Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Williams Appah, stressed that measles and rubella remain significant public health concerns, particularly among children, and can be prevented through timely vaccination.

He explained that the Measles-Rubella vaccines are available for children aged 9 to 15 months, urging parents and caregivers to take advantage of the exercise to safeguard their children’s health.

Dr. Appah also disclosed that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is available for girls aged 14 years, noting that the vaccine plays a crucial role in preventing cervical cancer later in life. 

He encouraged parents to support the initiative by ensuring that eligible girls receive the HPV vaccine.

Speaking on behalf of the Women Organised for Mentorship and Advocacy Network (WOMAN), Executive Director Lady Eunice Nnachi commended the Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board for taking immunisation awareness directly to the people. 

She emphasised that women, especially mothers and caregivers, play a critical role in protecting children’s health and encouraged parents to embrace routine immunisation as a responsibility, not an option. 

Lady Nnachi noted that community-based sensitisation helps dispel myths and misinformation about vaccines, assuring residents that the Measles-Rubella and HPV vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for securing a healthier future for children in Bayelsa State.

The roadshow saw the participation of key civil society organizations, including the Eunice Nnachi Women Advocacy Foundation (ENWAF), and members of these groups joined health officials in mobilizing residents, distributing information, and creating awareness about the benefits of routine immunization.

Residents were urged to cooperate with health workers and make their children available for vaccination, as the exercise is safe, free, and vital to improving child survival and overall public health in Bayelsa State.