Christian religious leaders throughout Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, utilized their church grounds on Sunday to host health personnel for a mass vaccination drive against measles-rubella, polio, and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
The campaign focused on providing the measles-rubella vaccine to children aged 9 months to 14 years, the polio vaccine to children aged 0 to 59 months, and the HPV vaccine specifically to 9-year-old girls.
Several clerics praised the state health authorities for the strategic decision to hold the campaign at places of worship, highlighting it as an effective way to shield children from dangerous but preventable diseases. One cleric commented that the initiative was a “welcome development” that would prevent children from dying from easily avoidable illnesses.
Addressing public concerns, the religious leaders urged parents to ignore false information about the HPV vaccine, stressing its vital role in preventing cervical cancer in women.
Health officials reported satisfaction with the public turnout and noted that the exercise had experienced no major issues since it began. The statewide vaccination campaign is planned to last ten days and will reach all 16 local government councils and the two Special Development Areas in Taraba State.
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