…begins process of sensitising stakeholders on introduction of Measles Rubella vaccine

By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government has, in the last 11 months, vaccinated over 266,429 eligible girls in the state against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)—the most common sexually transmitted infection and a leading cause of cervical cancer.

Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in the state.

Dr Oyebanji described the HPV vaccination campaign, which she flagged off in May 2025, as a huge success, noting that the exercise reached targeted communities and shielded children from the scourge of cervical cancer.

She further explained that the introduction of the Measles Rubella vaccines was a crucial step towards safeguarding Ekiti children—particularly those within the 9–14 age bracket—against the diseases.

The governor’s wife also urged women across the state to routinely scan their breasts using the mammography machine available at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, stressing that the service was affordable and easily accessible.

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, disclosed that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October 2025. He said the state was already taking proactive measures to sensitise residents to ensure adequate awareness and acceptance.

Dr Filani charged stakeholders at the event to act as champions of the vaccination campaigns and appealed to parents and guardians to ensure their children are properly immunised against the deadly diseases.

In their goodwill messages, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Peju Babafemi; former Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ronke Okusanya; Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Funke Ogunbunmi; State Coordinator of WHO, Pharm. Akeem Busari; and representative of the Centre for Well-being and Integrated Nutrition Solution (C-WINS), Dr Dele Ojo, described immunisation as one of the most impactful public health interventions. They noted that the introduction of Rubella and Measles vaccines marked a significant milestone in the fight against preventable diseases.

They charged stakeholders to support the initiative to ensure that no life is lost to preventable illnesses and that Ekiti continues to blaze the trail in public health excellence.

Other dignitaries present at the event included the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Health and Women Affairs, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun and Mrs Tayo Olatilu, respectively; Executive Secretary of SPHCDA, Dr Rasheed Adepoju; CAN President, Ekiti State Chapter, Dr Emmanuel Aribasoye; Grand Imam of South-West, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Jamiu Keulere; Wife of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Eyesorun Abosede Adejugbe; and other prominent Oloris and local government chairpersons.

Also in attendance were health development partners, medical and health professionals, grassroots political leaders, women’s associations and leaders, nursing mothers, among others.