The Social Behavioral Change consultant for UNICEF, Dr A.K Hudu has collected for collective efforts from all stakeholders to fight measles in Kogi State.
Dr Hudu made the call in Lokoja at a campaign of vaccination for children between the age of nine and 59 months which was organized by the Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
Giving break down of the meeting objectives, Dr Hudu said “this meeting aims to address immunity gaps in the population not reached by routine immunization and also to achieve 95% vaccination coverage for Measles (PCCS) & nOPV2 (LQAS), and 80% coverage for YF (PCCS). It will provide a second opportunity to receive measles and YF vaccination in eligible children and a first opportunity for YF vaccines in older populations.
“Also, this meeting aims to achieve 85% coverage of zero-dose children in the Zero dose LGAs and use opportunities provided by the campaign to strengthen the health systems”.
He stressed the need for community involvement and ownership to ensure quality campaign are delivered in villages, wards and district adding that, traditional rulers should support the advocacy to political leadership to ensure timely release of counterpart funds for activities that will benefit the communities.
“It will enable stakeholders to work together to address health-related issues and promote well-being to achieve positive health impact and outcomes. It helps fosters trust and partnership and deals with the collective efforts rather than the individual effort. It is a problem-solving and result-oriented strategy,” he added.
According to him, it is important to support efforts to improve routine immunization across all communities and mobilize the populace led by traditional leaders to promote demand generation at the grassroots level.
He stressed the need for regular sensitization of community members with the right information to dispel remour and reduce non-compliance across several State.
Earlier in his remarks, the State Health Educator Primary Healthcare Development Agency Momoh Shitu said “The essence of this stakeholders meeting is to sensitize stakeholders about 2024 Integrated SIAs in Kogi State and Nigeria. Also, to agree on the specific areas of stakeholders’ support for 2024 Integrated SIAs and to identify the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders for 2024 Integrated SIAs. It will also help to secure the commitment and support of stakeholders for 2024 Integrated SIAs”.
In his goodwill message, the Kogi State Coordinator, World Health Organization, (WHO) Dr Ibrahim Sanni who was represented by a former Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) Dr Attah noted that the organization will continue to serve as technical partners on health related issues in the State.
He lauded the cordial relationship between the agency, traditional rulers, religious in the measles campaign implementation aimed at improving healthcare in Kogi State.
