As part of its intensive sensitisation to reduce the risk of transmission of circulating vaccine derived Polio virus (CVDPV) outbreak, female religious leaders from the Christian and Muslim bloc in Oyo state have been charged to spread the message to reduce non-compliance and rejections of polio vaccines in communities across the state.
Dr Iyun Adanito who gave the charge to women groups in an enlightenment program facilitated by UNICEF in partnership with National Orientation Agency also harped on the imperatives of taking polio and other child related vaccines for children to mitigate associated vaccine preventable diseases in children.
The groups were also charged to use their platforms and messages to promote the importance of the vaccines amongst parents and caregivers in various LGAs in the state
Data show that there are pockets of rejections, non-compliance across the state from caregivers owing to ignorance, fear on the safety of the vaccines and religious biases. The programme also offers practical solutions of using group networks at all levels, stoppage of Fake news on social media, continuous enlightenment and seeking enabling laws among others to strengthen compliance.
The UNICEF SBC consultant- Mr S.O Olatunji further enlightened female religious leaders on the importance of receiving routine immunization as part of the components of the first 1000 days of a child to promote child survival. He also spoke on the importance of the HPV vaccines for girls to reduce the menace of cervical cancer.
Mr Posi Adejobi Assistant director programmes Oyo NOA urged the stakeholders to use the programme to equip themselves against Polio – proned hazards and contact any NOA office nearby to improve efficiency and ensure the vaccine is received by all children in the State across board.
In her own message, the Oyo State Director of National Orientation Agency, Dr Olukemi Afolayan advised the stakeholders not to be flippant, take the campaign for vaccines acceptance diligently and she encouraged the women to continue propagating UNICEF health advocacy messages.
The UNICEF SBC Specialist, Adeeonke Akinola-Akinwole emphasized the importance of working with religious groups to promote positive behaviour to improve child survival in the state.
In attendance were the leadership of FOMWAN and WOWICAN from the state and thirty-three LGAs in Oyo State.
