Citing the success with the anti-meningitis campaign, the federal government says it is ready to tackle measles.

The Federal Government will spend N1.6 billion on an anti-measles immunisation campaign, the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Ado Mohammed, said on Wednesday.

Mr. Mohammed said this in Abuja during a stakeholder’s conference on MenAfriVac, an anti-measles vaccine.

He said that the money would be used to procure vaccination cards, vaccines, injection materials, waste disposal materials and procurement of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) kit.

“In 1996, Nigeria had 15,000 death cases from meningitis; in 1999, 25,000 cases while in 2011, 1,000 cases were recorded, proving the fact that epidemics of meningitis has reduced rapidly in the country.

“Thousands of people die of meningitis annually, hence the total target population for MenAfriVac in Nigeria is 80 million and the estimated annual vaccine to be made available is 17 million,” he said.

Mr. Mohammed said the Federal Government wants the disease to be totally eradicated in the country, especially the most vulnerable states.

He said that the vaccine would be given to persons between 16 and 29 years and would last for 10 years unlike the 1996 conventional vaccine which was for three years.

He urged stakeholders to use every effective means to sensitise the public on the need for immunisation, adding that the aim of the programme would be defeated if enough awareness is not created.

The healthcare agency boss urged states to support the programme by procuring waste disposal materials and vaccine cards.

He urged them to also carry out social mobilisation activities to attract good results.

NAN