The Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) has announced that it will commence the third round of the “Big Catch Up” (BCU) child immunisation campaign on Thursday.
The State Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr Efeomo Eseigbe, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Monday in Benin.
Eseigbe explained that the immunisation exercise was being organised in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
He said the purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting was to promote awareness of the third round and to reassure parents and communities of the vaccines’ effectiveness and safety.
“This immunisation campaign is not new to Edo.
“The meeting serves as a platform to inform stakeholders about the exercise, scheduled to run from April 10 to April 17.
“The Big Catch Up initiative is primarily designed to reach children who missed earlier vaccination rounds—especially those in hard-to-reach areas, difficult terrains, or communities where access to immunisation was limited.
“The second phase helped address many of these challenges, and this third phase aims to ensure the completion and full coverage of the vaccination schedule for every eligible child,” he said.
Eseigbe urged parents to cooperate with healthcare workers who would be visiting homes during the campaign.
“Our healthcare workers will review children’s vaccination cards to determine which vaccines have been administered and which are still needed.
“I appeal to all parents to allow our trained healthcare workers access to their homes. They know what to do and are ready to ensure the wellbeing of your children.”
He emphasised that the vaccines were free of charge and were intended for children aged zero to 59 months.
Also speaking, Mrs Irene Uabor, a Health Educator with the agency, said the initiative was part of a broader strategy to address significant gaps in immunisation coverage across the state.
She stressed the importance of the campaign in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
She noted that healthcare workers would be conducting house-to-house visits across all 18 local government areas.
“We are calling on all stakeholders present to help amplify awareness of this important exercise in their communities,” Uabor said.
“This Big Catch Up campaign is ongoing in other states across the federation. Our goal is to close immunisation gaps so our children remain healthy and protected.
“We began round one in January, followed by round two in February, and now we are set for the third round,” she added.(NAN)
