The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated her commitment to expanding vaccine coverage nationwide.
Senator Tinubu declared that the ongoing Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign in Rivers would surpass all previous records in scope and success.
Tinubu, represented by the Wife of Rivers Gôvernor, Lady Valerie Fubara, made the statement during the flag-off ceremony of the Measles, Rubella, and HPV Vaccine Sensitisation Campaign, organised under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.
The campaign, implemented by the RHI in collaboration with the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board and international partners, aimed to protect millions of children and women from preventable diseases.
“We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the measles vaccine coverage achieved through this campaign exceeds that of the past.
“Through technical and financial support, this partnership will ensure that by February, 2026, well-trained staff are deployed across communities to vaccinate all eligible children, ” she said.
The campaign is targeting more than 106 million Nigerian children for vaccination against Measles, Rubella, Polio, and HPV.
Senator Tinubu emphasised the importance of vaccination, describing Measles and Rubella as “highly contagious and potentially deadly.
“The best way to prevent both diseases remains vaccination,” she stated.
She urged parents and caregivers to cooperate fully with health workers, noting that the Measles-Rubella vaccine is safe, effective, and free in all health centers.
The Rivers Government, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and Vaccine Alliance are partnering to ensure the success of the campaign.
In her goodwill message, the WHO Rivers Coordinator, Professor Giwa Abdulganiyu, praised the collaboration between RHI and the State Government, describing it as “a worthy step in the right direction.”
Also, the State Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, commended the Renewed Hope Initiative for its sustained impact in the state, noting that the Measles, Rubella, and HPV Sensitisation Programme marks “a significant step in promoting public health awareness, particularly among women and children.”
Earlier, the RHI Rivers State Coordinator, Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, welcomed guests, and reaffirmed the initiative’s goal of reducing the incidence of Measles and Rubella in the state.
“These diseases have the potential to cause emergencies and great distress in families. Today’s flag-off represents our collective determination to raise awareness and prevent such tragedies,” she said.
