Kogi: MopAmuro LG targets over 32,000 children in immunization campaign

By Richard Elesho

Since the commencement of the ongoing immunization against measles and polio in Kogi State two days ago, more than 7,000 children have benefitted from the campaign in MopAmuro Local Government Area. The program, which has received wide acceptance across the state, targets over 32,000 children in the local government.

This was made known by the Local Government Immunization Officer, LIO, Mrs Comfort Ajagun, during a discussion with journalists. The flag off ceremony for the October 2025 Measles/Rubella integrated SIAs implementation took place on Monday 6/10/2025 at BHC Ileteju, Mopa.

She said a total of 32 well equipped teams were on the ground covering all parts of the ten wards of the LGA, and expressed the hope that the campaign will help in keeping the two killer diseases at bay.

The LIO who commended the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, KGHCDA, UNICEF, and other partners for sponsoring the campaign, however, complained about the security situation which she said hampered access to some children, especially of nomadic parents.

“The program has been well received by our people. One is satisfied with the level of turnout and participation. The only problem is accessing some people living in the forest. They are not coming out and our members can not risk going into their base in the forest.”

At the flag-off of the campaign in Lokoja on Monday, the Executive Director KGPHCDA, Dr. Musa Muazu Omeiza noted that the campaign against Measles Rubella (MR), including novel Oral Polio Virus (nOPV), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination, and Routine Immunization (RI) is specifically targeted at One Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy -one (1,988,371) children.

The campaign runs from the 6th to the 15th of October and enjoys support from the UNICEF. The exercise is tailored towards providing access and increasing vaccine availability and use by children. It is also a major step to the protection of young girls against cervical cancer through the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

While inaugurating the campaign in the office of the KSPHCDA at Old Market, Lokoja, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo commended the development partners and urged traditional and religious leaders not to relent in mobilising women and children to participate in the program.

He pledged his administration’s commitment to health care delivery.

“Routine immunisation is a powerful tool to end avoidable ailments and to preserve our state. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every child is reached.”

The representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Ishola Abdulrazaq, in a goodwill message, praised Kogi State for achieving 100 per cent coverage in previous immunization rounds. He called for the recruitment of more hands in the health sector.