Oluremi Tinubu measles-rubella campaign targets 106 million children, marking Africa’s largest health drive to end preventable childhood diseases

Oluremi Tinubu measles-rubella campaign has been launched in Abuja, with the First Lady warning that the twin diseases continue to rob Nigerian children of their future.

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Speaking at the national flag-off ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre on Monday, the First Lady described the Measles-Rubella Vaccine Introduction Integrated Campaign as the largest health initiative in Africa’s history.

The nationwide effort aims to reach about 106 million children aged nine months to under 15 years in two phases.

Mrs Tinubu stressed the urgency of the campaign, saying, “Measles can cause blindness, permanent disability, and, in too many cases, death.

Its twin disease, rubella, though often silent, is equally harmful—especially to unborn children who may be born with blindness, deafness, or heart defects.”

She warned that both diseases “steal the future of our sons and daughters” and urged parents to take responsibility. “A vaccine in a vial does not save a child. Protection only becomes real when that vaccine is injected into the arm of a child,” she said.

Calling on community and faith leaders to use their influence, the First Lady appealed: “Mothers, take your children to be vaccinated. Fathers, support your wives. Traditional and religious leaders—spread the truth, dispel rumours, and ensure no child is left behind.”

She commended the success of previous vaccination campaigns, including the HPV rollout, and assured Nigerians that the new vaccines are safe, effective, and free.

“They are among the greatest gifts of modern medicine—saving lives and giving children a chance to grow, learn, and thrive,” she said before officially flagging off the campaign.

The integrated drive also includes efforts against polio and HPV, aligning with Nigeria’s commitments to the Immunisation Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the initiative as “a reimagination of how health services reach every Nigerian.”

He revealed that the government plans to add 4,800 new health centres by 2026 and highlighted the impact of programmes supporting pregnant women and emergency care.

Pate praised the First Lady’s personal commitment: “You have given your time, treasure, and talent to reach women and children across Nigeria.”

Representatives from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation lauded Nigeria’s leadership in public health innovation, noting that the campaign’s scale combines “ambition and opportunity.”

Traditional and religious leaders also expressed support. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, stressed awareness, while the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasised persuasion over enforcement, recalling Nigeria’s victory against polio achieved through education, not coercion.

Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, called the campaign a “golden opportunity to reduce preventable deaths and strengthen public health.”

Earlier, Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, described the initiative as “the mother of all campaigns—the largest in Africa’s history.”

According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria remains among the countries most affected by measles globally, with thousands of cases annually.

Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, blindness, and death, while rubella poses serious risks for pregnant women, including miscarriage and congenital disabilities.

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Through this historic drive, Nigeria aims not only to eliminate measles and rubella but also to secure a healthier future for millions of children.