Owerri West LGA has launched a targeted health crusade—pushing into rural neighborhoods to educate and immunize against measles, rubella, and tuberculosis, aiming to shore up immunity where coverage lags.
Council Chairperson Mrs. Precious Osigwe praised the support of First Lady Chioma Uzodimma, whose backing energized this campaign. She emphasized that fostering universal health access through inclusive initiatives remains central to improving state health outcomes.
Local women’s groups have become the campaign’s linchpin—armed with facts on vaccine safety and disease threats, they’re driving door‑to‑door outreach to boost turnout at immunization points.
Dr. Calister Onyejieme, Head of Health, underlined the stakes: measles and rubella spread rapidly and can leave children with pneumonia, brain damage, or worse. The good news: those outcomes are preventable with vaccines.
This campaign dovetails with Nigeria’s broader efforts. Ongoing national measles‑rubella drives—fuelled by Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF—have already vaccinated over 23 million children aged 9–59 months since October 2024.
Local health officials hope this push will narrow the worrying urban‑rural gap in coverage. Studies show rural areas in Imo have lagged drastically—just under 20% of children immunized compared to over 80% in urban zones.
Owerri West’s campaign sends a powerful message: when communities lead, backed by government and global partnerships, even entrenched health challenges can be erased. The path to healthier futures lies in shared vigilance and free vaccines.
