The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has pledged his full support for the upcoming National Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, calling for mass mobilisation to ensure its success.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the traditional monarch described the nationwide campaign as a crucial effort to protect Nigeria’s children from preventable diseases, urging all Nigerians to actively participate.
The Nigerian government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), will launch the MR vaccination exercise in October 2025, targeting children aged nine months to 14 years.
“Measles and rubella are not distant problems; they are real threats affecting our families and taking young lives. The good news is that these diseases are vaccine-preventable,” the Ooni stated.
He emphasised that the campaign is not merely an event, but a national duty to safeguard the future of the country.
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“This is a call to protect our children and reduce childhood mortality, while improving Nigeria’s overall health indicators.”
Oba Ogunwusi urged parents, caregivers, school authorities, and community leaders to ensure that every eligible child is vaccinated, saying:
“I fully endorse the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign and call on everyone to key into it. Our future depends on the health of our children.”
He also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and grassroots influencers to rally behind the exercise by educating their communities and dispelling common myths surrounding vaccines.
“We must educate, mobilise, and make sure no child is left behind. Traditional institutions across the country will be activated to ensure the message reaches every household,” he pledged.
Drawing from the experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ooni reaffirmed the commitment of the traditional institution to health promotion and advocacy in partnership with government agencies such as the NPHCDA.
“We did it during COVID, and we can do it again. We will continue to support all health initiatives that protect and uplift our people,” he added.
The Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign forms part of Nigeria’s broader national strategy to eliminate both diseases, in alignment with global health targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The campaign has already received significant backing from government stakeholders and international health partners.
Public health experts say the endorsement by the Ooni of Ife is expected to boost community trust and uptake, particularly in rural and underserved areas, where traditional leaders are key influencers.
NAN