Jigawa first lady calls on parents to immunize their children

By Ali Rabi'u Ali Jigawa

The Nigerian Governor's Forum, under the leadership of the Jigawa State First Lady, Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadi, has organized a one-day sensitization program on the importance of Measles Rubella vaccination. Mrs. Umar Namadi, in her speech, said the government has targeted over 2 million children to be vaccinated against Measles Rubella, which is killing people, mostly children, during this heat season.

The program, which was held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Dutse, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, was supported by the state's Ministry for Local Government, with a view to sensitizing mothers on the importance of Measles Rubella and other immunizations.

Measles and Rubella are both viral infections that can cause serious health issues, especially in children. Professor Yamusa Aliyu Kani said measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can lead to severe complications like blindness, encephalitis, and pneumonia. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body. Rubella, also known as German measles, is a viral infection that causes a rash, low-grade fever, and lymph node swelling.

The deliberations underscored the critical importance of sustained immunization efforts and the need for strategic community engagement to bolster public confidence in the MR vaccine. Participants reaffirmed their collective commitment to advancing child health outcomes through coordinated, community-led health interventions.