United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has solicited improved stakeholders’ support in raising public awareness on its Big Catch Up (BCU) vaccines initiative, aimed at restoring immunisation progress lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Abdulrahman Hudu, UNICEF BCU Consultant, made the call yesterday – Friday, December 20 – at a one-day stakeholders town hall meeting for BCU activities for routine immunisation intensification in Lokoja, the Kogi State.
Hudu, in a presentation, said that by supporting the BCU activities, UNICEF and its partners aim to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce the risk of outbreaks, and promote overall health and well-being.
The consultant pointed out that the BCU activities were aimed at restoring immunisation progress lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on vaccinating millions of children who missed out on essential vaccinations due to the pandemic.
Explaining the concept of Social and Behavioural Change (SBC), Hudu said it relates to a people-centred approach to understanding problems and influencing change, pointing out that it empowers people to take actions and make positive changes in their own lives, using community insight, as well as a multidisciplinary approach that draws various fields together.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders to help in raising adequate awareness of the BCU activities while calling on the government to improve policies and services to enhance vaccine uptake.
Dr Musa Muazu, Executive Director (ED), Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), commended UNICEF and other partners for their unwavering support for the state towards achieving its universal health coverage programme.
Muazu reaffirmed Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s administration’s commitment to ensuring improved quality healthcare delivery to citizens, especially at the grassroots.
He, however, stressed the need for health officers and relevant stakeholders to play their parts towards effective service delivery for the betterment of the state.
The ED further called on the political officeholders, especially the local government chairmen, to help in championing the upcoming BCU activities in their respective areas to ensure full participation.
Speaking on the “Roles of Stakeholders in Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilisation for BCU,” Mr Shittu Momoh, State Health Educator, urged stakeholders to raise awareness and knowledge on vaccines and routine immunisation schedules through targeted messaging.
He stressed the need for stakeholders to keep reassuring communities of vaccine safety and effectiveness by addressing myths, misconceptions and rumours about vaccines.
“It is our collective responsibility as stakeholders to channel our efforts towards enlightening the people and promoting vaccines as preventive measures for vaccine-preventable diseases in a socially and culturally acceptable manner,” he said.
On her part, Mrs Ajuma Apeh, the State Immunisation Officer (SIO), who spoke on “Key Messages About Vaccines and BCU Activities,” said the vaccination comprised oral polio vaccination for children aged 0 to 59 months and measles, aged 9 to 59 months.
“Other vaccines are Human Papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) for girls, aged 9 to 14 years; routine immunisation for age 0 to 23 months; yellow fever for everyone aged 9 months to 44 years; and Tetanus Diphtheria (Td) for girls and women, aged 15 to 49 years.
“The BCU vaccination campaign activities would begin on 6th to 11th January, 2025, across seven local government areas of Ankpa, Olamaboro, Ofu, Ibaji, Bassa, and Kogi,” she disclosed.
