Anambra State has been selected as one of the nine pilot states in the country that will conduct this year’s meningitis campaign. The other states are Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara and Oyo.

Disclosing this at a press briefing on Wednesday in Awka, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, said his ministry has started serious mobilisation of the various communities to ensure the success of the exercise.

According to him, the campaign is targeted at those aged one to 29 years, which he described as the vulnerable group.

Akabuike stressed that though there was no case of meningitis in the state, Anambra was selected because of the risk factor as the disease has already been reported in some neighbouring states.

He further said that development partners, including UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, among others, were involved in the exercise.

On her part, the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinator in the state, Dr. Roseline Onyibe, expressed fears over some of the communities in the riverine areas of the state that were currently flooded and would be difficult to access.

She called on the traditional rulers, town union presidents and community leaders to help in mobilising their people.

Speaking, the UNICEF EPI Consultant in Anambra State, Diden Gbofeyin, said that the mobilisation exercise, which had already kicked off, would last for 10 days, advising that all hands should be on deck to ensure a successful campaign.

•Photo shows a Nigerian child being vaccinated against meningitis.