… call to action for media
…community effort for a healthier future
The Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Lagos State field office organised a one-day HPV/Non-Polio Supplemental Immunization Integrated Activities (NPSIAs) for South-West Zone and Edo State.
The media orientation program held on Thursday in Oyo town, Oyo State aimed at strengthening the collaboration between the health sector and media on advocacies for sensitization of health interventions.
Participants were drawn from state Ministry of Information and Orientation, primary healthcare donors, and the media, with the Key Message for the Media – “A Call to Action for the Media, Immunization Saves Lives: A Community Effort for a Healthier Future.”
In her welcome address, Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist, UNICEF, Lagos State, said the objective for the meeting was to provide consistent and correct information about upcoming immunization campaigns, as well as challenge stakeholders for enhanced immunization and campaign results through a sustainable approach that would ensure children that should get vaccinated are vaccinated.
“One of the major hindrances in achieving 100% vaccination for a healthy life is myth, and we have to demystify this myth and let the people know that this is actually for their good.
“We are aware that myths and misconceptions deter people from taking the vaccine because it impedes their trust in vaccines. However, parents should know that vaccines are safe, effective, and free.
“When you take your child to get vaccinated, you’re fulfilling the rights of your child to survive, and that is a responsibility of every parent,” Akinola-Akinwole said.
She stated that the immunization campaign that is about to start is a national campaign targeting 16 states, inclusive of all the South-West states and Edo state. But Lagos state will start theirs on the 19th of October.
“This particular one that is starting on the 5th of October is targeting Ogun, Oyo, Oshun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Edo.
“Most states will always do a two-day mop-up essentially to target children who were not captured during the campaign to ensure that no child is missed.
“Our facilities remain open across the states to be able to give children the required vaccines that they have. Not just targeting measles campaign now, we’re using the opportunity actually to strengthen routine immunization where children under the age of two can go to the facilities to get immunized for vaccines that they’ve missed,” Akinola-Akinwole.
“Across the South-West zone, except for Lagos, the planned date for the kick-off of this vaccine is Saturday, the 5th of October, across our states.
“We want the media to support us in raising awareness, to build vaccine trust and acceptance. From the numbers that have been rolled out, we can see that we are looking at over 5,000,000 children from the South-West.
On limiting the spread and awareness of diseases, Akinola-Akinwole said, “We know that myths and misconceptions are drawn from social groups because they have a very good relationship with the target audience and they also exert influence on them when it comes to behaviour.
“For us, we have identified that some of the myths and misconceptions are also tied to religious beliefs and social beliefs, and what we are doing as UNICEF and the government of the different states is that we have come here today to also target the major opinion leaders centered around the social groups to engage them to get their buy-in.
“So far, we’ve gotten so much commitment from the religious houses, from the social groups, and we are assiduously working on targeting everyone who has an influence on behaviour to help us propagate the news of vaccine safety and acceptance.”
On technical partnership between organizations and UNICEF, Akinola-Akinwole said, “The technical partnership between the organization and UNICEF has been so much fruitful. It has been collaborative, and we’ve seen the relationship that has been able to promote the rights of children. For us as UNICEF, like I always say, UNICEF works with the government of Nigeria to protect and promote the rights of children, and we cannot do this alone.
“That’s why we carry all stakeholders that have to do with child survival and development, ensuring that everybody plays their part, and advocating that there is active participation in ensuring that the rights of children are protected and promoted.”
On his part, Babalola Rotimi, Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Oyo State remarked that stakeholders should strengthen existing relationships. He urged the media as critical agents to help promote consistent and effective information centred on the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
UNICEF Social Behaviour Change (SBC) consultant, Pita Otowu Obam underscores the role of the media as partners in 2024 integrated Non-Polio Supplemental Immunization Integrated Activities (NPSIAs) to include mobilizing for participation and strengthening immunization; support in awareness creation and announcement; as well as addressing rumours and misinformation by presenting key messages.
Other relevant topics covered at the programme by UNICEF SBC specialists, State Immunization Officers (SIOs), Ministry of Information (MOI) Directors and Programme Officers include Utilizing data for action; Utilizing social media for immunization and health communication; Going beyond the headlines – Telling compelling stories and Crafting effective messages; Debunking and Demystifying myths and misconceptions about vaccines.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of media action plan and commitments for upcoming immunization activities, and a communique at the close of the programme.
