Yobe State has taken a pioneering step in Nigeria’s public health sector by launching the country’s first-ever integrated measles-rubella campaign that combines six life-saving health interventions in a single exercise.
The initiative, inaugurated on Friday in Damaturu by Governor Mai Buni, marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s approach to disease prevention and maternal-child health.
The campaign, set to run from October 28 to November 1, 2025, will be implemented simultaneously across all 17 local government areas of the state.
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Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Baba Malam-Wali, Mr Buni said the model was designed to maximise resources, improve efficiency, and expand access to essential health services for millions of residents.
“This campaign is unique and historic, the first of its kind in Nigeria—delivering six key health interventions by vaccination teams across all communities and settlements in Yobe,” the governor said. “Our administration will continue to prioritise healthcare delivery to improve the lives of women, children, and all residents of Yobe State.”
The integrated approach brings together multiple preventive services: measles-rubella vaccination for children aged nine months to 14 year-old, polio immunisation for those under five, routine vaccinations for infants under two, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention for children aged three to 59 months.
It will also include the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to all households and tetanus toxoid vaccination for women of reproductive age, says News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.
The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Babagana Machina said Yobe was selected alongside Kano, Akwa Ibom, and Oyo States to pilot the initiative because of its strong health governance and successful immunisation track record.
“This initiative demonstrates Yobe’s leadership in public health innovation. If successful, this integrated approach will be adopted in other parts of Nigeria and beyond.”
He also praised traditional and religious leaders for their ongoing support in mobilising communities, noting that their involvement was vital for achieving full coverage.
The campaign is being jointly implemented by the Yobe State Government, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Ministry of Health, and international partners including UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Governor Buni reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to strengthen the health system through continued investments in infrastructure, personnel, and partnerships.
