Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has pledged full support for the upcoming measles and rubella immunisation campaign, backed by the Federal Government and global health partner Gavi, which is set to launch in October 2025.
Governor Sule made the declaration over the weekend during a ceremony at the Government House in Lafia, following an advocacy visit led by Dr. Usman Iskilu, Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency. Also in attendance were representatives from the Centre for the Wellbeing and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS), the Governor’s wife, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule, and wives of local government council chairmen.
Reiterating his administration’s strong commitment to public health—particularly that of children—Governor Sule urged citizens to actively support and participate in the vaccination campaign.
“I fully endorse the introduction of the measles-rubella vaccine by the Federal Government, the State Government, and our development partners. Measles and rubella are highly contagious diseases that can lead to serious complications including deafness, blindness, heart defects, brain damage, and even death in children,” he said.
He assured residents that the measles-rubella vaccine is safe, effective, and vital for protecting children’s lives. The campaign targets children aged 9 months to 15 years.
Governor Sule emphasized that immunisation not only protects individual children but also boosts the overall healthcare system and contributes to economic development. He pledged that his administration would ensure the vaccine is readily available and accessible to all eligible children.
He called on parents, caregivers, religious and traditional leaders, and community influencers to mobilize support for the campaign, stressing that safeguarding children’s health is a collective responsibility.
Highlighting his administration’s broader vision for health development, Governor Sule recalled ongoing discussions with Gavi on establishing a vaccine production facility in the state. He instructed the state’s Primary Health Care Development Agency to actively pursue the initiative, adding that Nasarawa is ready to offer land and enter into a public-private partnership (PPP) to make the factory a reality.
The Governor also praised healthcare workers and the wives of local government chairmen for their advocacy efforts ahead of the campaign’s official rollout in October.
