Niger Delta
Club Immunises 500 Children Against Measles
Over 500 children in Calabar were immunised against measles under a programme supported by Lions Club District 404.
The immunisation, carried out in Adiabo community in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, Cross River, was part of the Federal Ministry of Health National Integrated Measles Campaign.
The Regional Chairman of the club, Mr Ene Cobham said the aim was to encourage mothers to immunise their children.
According to him, the lions Club carry out the mobilisation and sensitisation of the public, while the state Ministry of Health takes charge of the immunisation.
“We have given out gifts worth N500, 000 to children in order to entice them to turn out for this exercise. We are also working in synergy with the Ministry of Health to reduce child mortality in states’’, he said.
Another member, Catherine Ephraim, said the club was assisting the ministry to bring out children for the immunisation through its door-to-door campaign, adding that “Lions Club has always been advocate for children and vulnerable populations; measles is one of the most contagious-yet preventable disease in the world’’.
The Chief Community Health Officer, Mrs Bassey Edem thanked the club for the initiative, noting that its strategy had educated and encouraged mothers to bring out their children for immunisation.