Measles: Kogi Govt. changes immunisation date to Nov. 28

It advised parents to ensure they immunised their children from nine months to five years against measles.

The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency has changed the date of vaccination against measles for children from nine months to five years to Nov. 28, 2015.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Shaibu Amedu, the Director, Disease Control and Malnutrition of the Agency on Saturday in Lokoja.

The director explained in the statement that the previous date, which was from Nov. 21 to Nov. 25, had been rescheduled to hold from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2.

The statement noted that the date was changed because it clashed with the Kogi governorship election slated for Nov. 21.

It advised parents to ensure they immunised their children from nine months to five years against measles.

According to the statement, measles vaccine is available and it is free in all Government Health Centres across the state.

"Measles is still a problem in Nigeria, thousands of children die annually from the disease.

“In 2014, 4392 cases of measles were reported in 296 Local Government Areas in 36 States.

"The affected children were 62 per cent and they were below the age of five years.

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified Nigeria as one of the three countries that account for majority of global deaths due to measles infection.

“Nigeria is ranked third, behind India and Pakistan,’’ the statement added.