Mothers in the country especially those who have immunized their children have been told to be advocates by extending messages on the benefits of immunization to other mothers explaining the need for their children to be adequately vaccinated.
The Permanent Secretary, of Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Akeem Mustapha, made the call at an Immunisation outreach in Ita Elewa PHC, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, to mark World Immunisation Week with the theme, “Immunisation is for all is humanly possible.”
He explained that Ikorodu is one of the strategic cities and the second highest in Lagos state that harbors a large number of children who have never tasted vaccination hence the need for the choice of the area.
Dr. Akeem Mustapha, who emphasized the importance of adequate immunization noted that children who are under-vaccinated or have zero doses are likely to spread the disease within the community.
He charged the mothers present at the program to be advocates and extend the message to other mothers on the need for their children to be adequately vaccinated.
According to him, “It is very crucial to ensure that they reduce the 20 percent of children that have not completed or have had no vaccination at all”.
“The aim was to remind the mothers and the government that every child needs vaccination because it protects their future. “We are here for the children and role players asking government and caregivers to wake up to their responsibilities and ensure they protect the children with vaccines.
She noted that vaccines work to prevent diseases but if they are not vaccinated, they will not grow well, talk well, go to school, and even be bold in their learning because they will be distracted.
Dr Akeem Mustapha urged the caregivers not to sit within the health facilities but to go out on outreaches and meet the caregivers within their domains on access to vaccination, particularly for under-five children.
He expressed gratitude to the mothers who made it to the event and those who had vaccinated their children, saying that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has considered it very important because health is wealth.
Deputy Country Director who is also the Director of Programme Development and Quality, Mrs Jane Mbagi Mutua, said that the Save Children initiative believed that no child should die before their 5th birthday when they are properly vaccinated.
According to her, “Vaccination is one of the means of preventing the diseases and Save Children initiative is committed to ensuring that every child accesses their doses of vaccinations”.
“They did an analysis in Lagos and discovered that about 80 percent of the children had been vaccinated, that is, 8 out of every 10 children got vaccinated, while 2 out of every 10 were not vaccinated”. She stated
Mutua added that they are working on a Programme called “Boost,” which is aimed at finding the reasons why some children are not immunized.
On her part, SCI Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Dr Itunnu Dave Agboola, said that about one hundred and fifty mothers brought their children to the venue of the program to be immunization.
Dr Agboola, who promised to reach as many families as possible, said that their goal is to eliminate zero doses and Immunisation.
She noted that this can be achieved through collaboration as collaboration promotes the achievement of results.
Dr Agboola believes that collaborating with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has been fruitful because they leveraged their strength to pull this achievement.
” I want healthcare providers to get immunization closer to the people as accepting to present their children and wards would reduce the current indices, improve acceptability, and cut off the cost of transportation”. Agboola affirmed