In commemoration of the World Immunization Day, health experts have called on Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in the health sector and the media to champion health advocacies and place health related issues in the front burner.
The Director General of West African Institute of Public Health, Francis Ohanyido, who stated this at in Abuja during Save the Children (SCI) sensitization meeting to mark the 2023 World Immunization Week called on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the health sector and the media to step up advocacies on various health related issues in the country.
He said the time has come for the CSOs to champion health advocacies and place health related issues in the front burner.
According to him, CSOs need to understand what is happening in the sector.
“We need to be getting update from the ministry either on monthly or quarterly basis so that we can effectively function.
“We need to stress our advocacies in areas of immunization and why it is necessary. Many people are relying on us and we should not let them down,” he said .
Also, the Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communication and Media, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria, Amanuel Mamo said, “Going forward, we should create an enabling environment and strengthen the three gateways to deliver Basic Healthcare Provision Fund as the principal funding vehicle for the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) which includes immunisations integrated with other services and implemented at primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria, using data to drive decision-making while ensuring the implementation of the zero-dose operational plan (Z-DOP)”.
He urged the rederal and state governments to keep immunization high on their sustainable development agenda as vaccinated communities will be healthy, productive and resilient.
On the role of the media in improving immunisation coverage in Nigeria, Line editor of the NGO/CSO page and Correspondent of Blueprint Newspaper, Adeola Akinbobola said media is one of the critical components in ensuring that children are immunized across the country.
She said there are always misconceptions about vaccines and immunisation making it difficult for people particularly at the grassroot to accept them.
She said to change these attitudes, strategic media campaigns targeted at creating understanding and acceptance is required.
According to her, Journalists can counter these threats with accurate reporting on disease outbreaks and immunization.
“And so, there is need for an effective communication strategies that can address some of these issues by making more people aware of the benefits of immunisation; correcting false beliefs, rumours, or concerns that prevent people from getting immunised; and informing people where and when to get immunised, thereby potentially increasing vaccination rates,” she said.
