By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Tuesday flagged off the 2025 Integrated Measles-Rubella, Polio, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign in Lokoja, pledging his administration’s commitment to sustaining a healthy and polio-free Kogi State.
The event took place at the Old Market Primary Health Centre, where Governor Ododo described vaccination as a vital step toward building a healthier, safer, and more prosperous state. He emphasized that no child in Kogi should be left out of the immunization exercise.
“Routine immunization is a powerful tool to end avoidable diseases and sustain our status as a polio-free state. It is our collective responsibility to ensure every child is reached,” the Governor said.
Governor Ododo assured residents that the campaign would be implemented across all three senatorial districts, noting that the initiative would strengthen routine immunization and reinforce the government’s ongoing investments in healthcare infrastructure.
He further highlighted reforms in the state’s Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) aimed at reducing maternal mortality and eradicating childhood diseases. The Governor also commended traditional and religious leaders for their continued support and urged parents and caregivers to present their children for vaccination.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, praised the Governor’s leadership, noting that the revitalization of PHCs has received broad community acceptance.
In his goodwill message, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Babatunde Ishola, who represented the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), commended Kogi State for achieving 100 percent coverage in previous immunization rounds. He lauded the Governor’s personal involvement in the campaign and appealed for the recruitment of additional frontline and auxiliary health workers to further strengthen service delivery.
The 2025 Integrated Immunization Campaign, which runs from October 6 to 15, targets children aged 9 months to 14 years across Kogi State. The exercise also introduces the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer among girls.
