Nasarawa State Backs New Measles-Rubella Vaccine to Protect Children

The Nasarawa State Government has promised to support the Federal Government’s plan to introduce a new measles-rubella vaccine as part of routine immunisation for children, starting in October 2025.

This pledge was made during a one-day stakeholder meeting held in Lafia, the state capital. The event was organised by the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in partnership with the state’s First Lady’s office and the Centre for Wellbeing and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS).

Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, spoke at the event. He said that the health of residents, especially children, is a top priority for his administration. He added that protecting children from deadly diseases like measles and rubella will not only save lives but also help build a stronger healthcare system and economy for the state.

Governor Sule urged local government chairmen, their wives, health workers, religious and traditional leaders, caregivers, and community influencers to support the full rollout of the vaccine in all 13 local government areas of the state.

“No amount spent on health is too much,” the governor said. “We are committed to making sure the measles-rubella vaccine is available in every healthcare facility across Nasarawa.”

He described the vaccine as a safe and effective way to protect children from serious health problems such as deafness, blindness, heart defects, brain damage, and even death.

“I strongly support this new vaccine being introduced by the Federal Government, the state, and our development partners,” he added. “Measles and rubella spread easily and can cause serious harm. I encourage all parents, guardians, religious and community leaders to make sure that children aged 9 to 15 months receive this vaccine.”

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Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Usman Iskilu, thanked the governor for backing the vaccine rollout. He said the new two-in-one measles-rubella vaccine will offer stronger protection for children against these dangerous diseases.

Dr Iskilu stressed that the goal is to gain strong backing from both government leaders and communities so the vaccine can be fully added to the state’s regular immunisation programme.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, also addressed the gathering. He appreciated the presence of key stakeholders and said the state aims to lead in this new vaccination effort, just as it did during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

He revealed that there had recently been a measles outbreak in Rukubi, a community in Doma Local Government Area. “I was surprised to hear that measles still exists in our communities, despite our past efforts,” he said. “This shows that the new measles-rubella vaccine is coming at just the right time. It will help us prevent more outbreaks and keep our children safe.”

As October approaches, the state government is calling on all members of society to work together to ensure every eligible child receives the new vaccine. With the right support, the vaccine could help eliminate measles and rubella in Nasarawa and serve as a model for other states in Nigeria.

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