6 die in Imo measles outbreak

A recent outbreak of measles in Imo
State has reportedly claimed the lives of six
children in Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Oru West and
Oru East local government areas of the state. The state Immunisation Officer, Ministry of Health,
Mr. Adolphus Okoro, warned parents that the six
killer diseases affect children under five years if
they are not immunised when due. He said: “To this end, the state Ministry of Health
has started training chief mobilisation officers of
the National Orientation Agency, NOA, and health
education officers in the 27 local government
areas of the state.” According to Okoro, the current exercise is to
ensure mass mobilisation of children under five
for timely and adequate immunisation. On what government was doing to stem the tide
of measles outbreak, Okoro said government had
preserved the vaccines at the newly constructed
cold store in Government House, Owerri, against
loss of potency. He appealed to parents and guardians to actively
participate in the fight against the six killer
diseases by presenting their children and wards
for immunisation. He said: “Parents and guardians are, therefore,
advised to take their children and wards to the
nearest health facilities, nursery schools, chur-
ches, mosques and other outreach centres for
immunisation, which commences this Saturday.” He commended donor agencies for making the
vaccines available for immunisation exercises in
the state.