During the visit, the Permanent Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, represented by the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Victor Adefesoye, said the engagement aimed to seek the Command’s partnership and support for the forthcoming vaccination exercise.
Dr. Akanbiemu explained that the campaign will introduce the measles and rubella vaccines to protect children aged 9 months to 14 years against the two highly contagious and potentially fatal viral infections.
“These vaccines are safe, effective, and vital for protecting our children. We are appealing to our military partners to help spread accurate information and dispel rumours that could hinder the campaign’s success,” he said.
He noted that the military’s involvement is crucial given its influence within communities and its presence in hard-to-reach areas. According to him, vaccination services will be available in all routine immunisation centres and outreach posts across Ondo State.
Dr. Akanbiemu further sought the assistance of the 32 Artillery Brigade in providing security during the exercise, particularly in vulnerable communities where access may be challenging.
Responding, the Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General J.A. Ifeanyi, represented by Captain (Dr.) Olayemi Ilori, commended the Agency for its proactive outreach and reaffirmed the Brigade’s commitment to supporting public health initiatives.
“The Command places a high premium on the health and wellbeing of its personnel and host communities. We have already begun sensitising our officers and troops about the vaccination exercise,” he said.
Brig. Gen. Ifeanyi assured that the Brigade would deploy personnel to accompany health workers to security-compromised areas and pledged to counter misinformation that could discourage participation.
“We will not allow false narratives to undermine such an important health programme. The importance of vaccination in preventing disease cannot be over-emphasised,” he added.
The Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring that every eligible child in the state is vaccinated, noting that community engagement and inter-agency cooperation remain key to achieving full coverage and disease elimination goals.