The Lagos State Government has partnered the World Health Organisation to give free vaccination to children between nine months and five years across the healthcare centres in the state.
The Medical Director, Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Dr. Adebajo Madewa, said the partnership would further increase the fight against the infection across the country with the adoption of international best medical practices.
Madewa, who spoke at the opening of the seven-day immunisation programme at the hospital, noted that the government was determined to totally rid the state of measles by 2020, a statement said on Tuesday.
“Adverse Effect Following Immunisation (AEFI) team is on the ground to help victims of adverse reactions that might arise in the course of carrying out the immunisation exercise,” he added.
A consultant paediatrician at the general hospital, Dr. Oyejoke Oyefesobi, identified symptoms of measles to include fever above 40°C, cough, a runny nose and inflamed eyes with small white spots known as Koplik’s Spotmay inside the mouth.
He said, “In developing countries where measles is endemic, WHO doctors recommend that two doses of vaccines be given at six and nine months of age. This move is targeted at curtailing the viral contagious disease possibly to zero level.”
A senior matron, Sanni Olamide of the Child Welfare Clinic of the facility, said malnourished children were mostly affected by measles, adding that it was aggravated by dirty environment.
Five students of the College of Education, Kangere in Bauchi State have reportedly died following the outbreak of cholera in the institution.
Our correspondent learnt from sources in the college that the outbreak of the disease, which was said to have been caused by the dirty environment of the institution, caused panic among lecturers and students.
Confirming the outbreak of the disease in the institution in a press release made available to newsmen in Bauchi, the college’s Public Relations Officer, Bala Kawu, said that only one student died.
He added that 34 students who had been infected were taken to the Cholera Camp at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for treatment.
Kawu stated, “The Bauchi State Government has been alerted to the outbreak of cholera at the College of Education, Kangere.
“Confirming the outbreak, the Medical Officer of the college’s clinic, Malam Bala Abdullahi, said about 34 students were taken to the camp at Bauchi; out of the number, six were admitted, while the remaining 28 were admitted and discharged.
Abdullahi, according to Kawu, “said only one student died, pointing out that the medical officers at the camp confirmed that the student died not of cholera but of another illness.
The PRO refuted the allegation that the outbreak of cholera was connected to the dirty environment, pointing out that the disease broke out in the state at Kangere town where two persons had been confirmed dead about two weeks ago.
“The Kangere College of Education Medical Officer appealed to the state Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency as well as medical agencies to assist the college with drugs and other assistance,” he said.
He added that the college authorities had refuted allegations that the institution had been closed down due to the outbreak of the disease.
The Deputy Provost of the college, Mr. Mugana Yelmi, said the college was not shut but that the students were running away because of the reported cholera outbreak.
