Bayelsa State has inaugurated its Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) Technical Working Group(TWG) to strengthen awareness ahead of the rollout of the Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccine.
The inauguration, held at the BHIS conference hall and chaired by Dr. Williams Appah, brought together state health officials, partners, civil society groups and community organisations to align communication strategies for improved vaccination uptake.
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Dr. Appah stressed the importance of coordinated messaging, strong community engagement and clear advocacy in protecting children and pregnant women from preventable diseases.
A presentation by Dr. Malachi Ogeleni of the International Vaccine Access Center highlighted the dangers of Rubella, particularly its link to Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and announced that the MR vaccine campaign will run from 20–29 January 2026 for children aged 9 months to 14 years. The vaccine will subsequently be administered routinely at 9 and 15 months.
Health/SBC consultant Dr. Makio Perekeme noted that the TWG will harmonise communication efforts across state and LGA levels, preventing fragmented messaging and ensuring consistent outreach. The group includes key stakeholders such as UNICEF, WHO, NAWOJ, CAN, ENWAF, WOMAN and other community-based organisations.
The ACSM initiative aims to deepen community trust, enhance social mobilisation and strengthen behaviour-change communication as Bayelsa prepares for the MR vaccine introduction. With the newly inaugurated TWG, the state is positioning itself to boost vaccine awareness, improve routine immunisation and advance the goal of eliminating measles and rubella while safeguarding the health of children and families across Bayelsa.
