In order to protect against measles and other diseases that kill children, the United Nations Children’s Fund plans to vaccinate at least five million children in the South West and Edo states.
Aderonke Akinola-Adewole, a UNICEF social behavioural change expert, encouraged parents to bring their kids for immunisation during the week-long 2024 Integrated Supplemental Immunisation Activities that would take place in the states of Edo, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ogun starting on October 5.
UNICEF will carry out the vaccination campaign in coordination with the governments of the various states, including Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, and Edo.
Adewole spoke on Friday in Oyo at a one-day zonal media orientation on the Human Papilloma Virus/Polio Supplemental Immunisation Integrated Activity, which was organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Information in collaboration with UNICEF for relevant government health officials and media practitioners from Southwest and Edo states.
The SBC expert informed parents, “Vaccines have proven to be effective in actually eradicating some public health diseases such as smallpox over the years.” He went on to say that vaccination will destroy diseases like polio, measles, yellow fever, and HPV, among others.
Therefore, why would we want to leave our kids vulnerable to things that are preventable? “Vaccines are safe, effective, and free,” she declared, dispelling the myths and prejudices that prevent some parents from getting their children vaccinated. She also urged the media to help raise awareness of the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
Speaking about the 2024 Integrated Supplemental Immunisation Activities, which are scheduled to begin in 16 states nationwide, including the Southwest and Edo states, the SBC expert declared, “Child vaccinations are essential for children’s survival and are a fundamental aspect of their rights.”
“When you take your child to get vaccinated, you are fulfilling the child’s right to life, and that is the obligation that every parent and stakeholder bears in ensuring that children survive and develop. We are not only focussing on the measles campaign right now; we are also using it to boost routine vaccination by allowing children under the age of two to visit facilities to be immunised for vaccines that they have missed.
“While the measles vaccination is for children aged nine to 59 months, routine immunisation is for children from zero to 23 months to ensure that every child has the opportunity to be healthy and develop. It will last a week, and I know that most states will always conduct a two-day cleanup to guarantee that no child is overlooked.
The mop-up is critical for capturing youngsters who were not apprehended during the campaign. All facilities across the states remain open to ensure that youngsters receive the necessary vaccinations.
“The data that have been released show that we are looking at about five million youngsters from the Southwest and Edo states. We are dealing with a large quantity, which is why we need the help of all stakeholders to ensure that these vaccines reach the proper youngsters.
“We want the media to help us raise awareness, build vaccine trust, and acceptance.” We want the media to assist raise awareness about deception and misinformation, which can undermine people’s belief in vaccines.
The media has a very broad reach, which is why we’ve organised this meeting to use your platforms and strength to reach out to people and convince them about vaccine safety and the significance of getting their children vaccinated,” she said.
Health authorities from the collaborating Southwest and Edo states, who implemented the targeted number of children in their respective areas, also highlighted other measures including as community participation, street publicity, and media engagements put in place to ensure the success of the measles campaign.
Bottom Line
Overall, this initiative by UNICEF and the government of Nigeria is a commendable effort to safeguard the future of children in these regions.
It is a reminder of the ongoing need for public health initiatives that prioritize prevention, community involvement, and accurate information to combat diseases that are entirely preventable with the right resources and awareness.
