Childhood Diseases: Osun Immunisation Officer Urges Stakeholders To Intensify Campaign For Children Immunisation

Sunday Okunade

Child immunization as been described as the process of protecting children from infectious and childhood diseases like polio, by administering vaccines to them. 

Vaccines help build immunity in children against specific diseases, reduce the risk of infections and subsequent complications. 

The State Immunisation Officer, Mrs Bola Adeosun made the assertion today during the SSOMTEC meeting on the review of non-polio supplemental Immunisation Integrated Activities (NPSIIA) including vaccines trust and uptake, a programme organised by the Osun State Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment in collaboration with UNICEF, Lagos field office, held in Osogbo, the State Capital.

Mrs Adeosun who was represented by Mrs Omowumi Awokunle explained that children immunisations help to prevent  infectious and childhood diseases, reduce diseases transmission, protect vulnerable populations, eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases, among others.

She eulogized the concerted efforts of both UNICEF and Osun State Government under the leadership of Senator Ademola Adeleke and healthcare workers for being pragmatic about the health of pregnant women and children across the state. She stressed further that during the last immunisation exercise, the State health workers were able to successfully vaccinate no fewer than one million children across the nooks and crannies of Osun State.

She however appealed to various stakeholders to take campaign for vaccination with all seriousness so as to get rid of preventable childhood diseases from the State.

In his own lecture, the Assistant State Health Promotion Officer, Mr Adeshina Akande who spoke on "Barriers to Vaccine Trust and Uptake in Osun" maintained that, despite proven efficacy and safety of vaccine, its hesitancy and low uptake remain challenges in many parts of Nigeria, including Osun State, saying that understanding the barriers to vaccine trust and uptake is crucial for designing interventions to improve immunization rates.

He mentioned some of the barriers to vaccine trust which include; religious beliefs, traditional Beliefs, misinformation and rumors, cost of access, shortage of Healthcare Personnel, mismanagement of vaccine supplies and health funding, among others.

He therefore provided solutions to the barriers, such as; enhancing public awareness, the use of local languages for radio, TV, and social media campaigns, strengthening Healthcare Systems, increase transparency in vaccine procurement and distribution processes, the use of technology for tracking vaccine supply and delivery efficiency among others.

He noted that, if all the solutions provided were strategically followed, it will serve as a roadmap for addressing vaccine hesitancy in Osun State, ensuring that every resident has access to life-saving immunizations.

In his opening remarks, the State programme Director, Raphael Ojo appreciated UNICEF for facilitating the programme to ensure life is better for all and sundry.

He noted that the purpose of the meeting is to synergies as stakeholders to ensure preventable diseases, especially, polio are eradicated from the land, so that the children can be healthy. He explained that community must be sensitised to enable the success of the programme.

The programme featured grouping of participants into various groups in which strategies to overcome barriers to immunisation and the way out were extensively discussed.