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By Tracy Moses
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the growing spread of Rubella, describing it as more dangerous than measles due to its devastating effects on both expectant mothers and their unborn children.
UNICEF, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children around the world.
According to them, the viral disease, often mistaken for measles, can cause lifelong health complications in newborns, including permanent hearing loss, cataracts, severe eye defects, and in some cases, total blindness, if not detected and managed early.
Mrs. Grace Odeyemi, UNICEF Team Lead for Niger State, issued the warning during a one-day training workshop for journalists, health teachers, and healthcare workers on the introduction of the Rubella-Measles vaccine, which will roll out in Nigeria for the first time in October 2025.
Speaking on the theme “Behavioural Change”, Odeyemi stressed the need for early public sensitisation, noting that many Nigerians are unfamiliar with the disease, and in some cases, cultural or superstitious interpretations hinder timely diagnosis and treatment.
“Rubella is especially dangerous for pregnant women,” she explained. “Although it has been present in other parts of the world for decades, awareness in Nigeria remains low. That is why UNICEF is championing this campaign ahead of the vaccine introduction.”
Odeyemi disclosed that the vaccination will target children from nine months to 14 years, unlike measles immunisation, which focuses on children from birth to 14 months. “We want every pregnant woman to know about Rubella so we can protect both their lives and the lives of their babies,” she added.
She urged journalists to use their platforms to educate mothers and encourage community participation in the immunisation drive, highlighting that the campaign’s primary goal is to prevent birth defects caused by Rubella infections during pregnancy.
Also speaking at the event, the Niger State Commissioner for Primary Health Care (PHC), Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, represented by the State Immunisation Officer, Alhaji Abubakar Kpantu, said the training aimed to prepare key stakeholders for the forthcoming campaign.
He emphasised the need for behavioural change among mothers to curb the disease, adding, “We aim to reach every household during the vaccination exercise in October. This effort will not only address Rubella but also close immunity gaps against Polio and Measles, while boosting routine immunisation coverage.”
Dangana noted that, like other vaccines, the Rubella vaccine may have mild side effects but stressed its importance in preventing serious health consequences. He revealed that limited surveillance in Nigeria means Rubella cases are underreported, despite an estimated 100,000 babies being born globally each year with defects linked to the disease.