Fighting to ensure that the Measles Vaccine Campaign MVC of 2018 goes up to the threshold of 95% coverage ,  Lagos state government has intensified its MVC effort by integrating the media in the fight.

This  big step towards reducing childhood mortality against this highly contagious measles, was welcomed by the media as they agreed to use their structures to help disseminate information about the MVC in Lagos State.

 At a one day media orientation workshop for 2017/2018 MVC organised by Lagos state government in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, the National Primary Healthcare Board Development Agency and other partners,  Dr Iyabo Aare, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board,   said that  the aim is to improve immunization coverage against measles and reduce deaths among children 9 months to 59 months , attaining 95% coverage in each LGA nationwide.

She solicited the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders, particularly journalists and communities to ensure the success of the campaign .

Identifying roles and responsibilities of the media , Dr Charles Nwosisi, Health Specialist, UNICEF observed that the media is critical to the successful implementation of  health programmes in general and the 2017/2018 Measles Campaign in particular .

He therefore urged the media to carefully chose statistics, evidence (proven facts) or examples to reinforce their points  , restate their message in several different ways that people can understand , know what action they seek from the listener / viewer / audience and dispel rumors and myths about the disease.

In her remarks at the workshop ,  Modupe Owojuyigbe, Director, Health Education, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board,  observed that the newer things in this campaign are the use of House to House mobilizers , increasing the number of vaccination days to 6 , states to provide counterpart funding for additional teams and an extra day for mop up , plans for some special teams for special pop , accountability framework with sanctions and rewards , Intensified engagement of all stakeholders etc.