By Uzo Ugwunze
Stakeholders from all the communities in Idemili South Local Government Area(ISLGA), Anambra State have been urged to motivate and encourage members of the their Communities to avail their children aged 9 months to 59 months for measles vaccination which will commence soon.
Director/ HOD ISLGA Health Authority Mrs Florence Ojukwu said that the essence of the Stakeholders Meeting was to sensitize the community leaders on the need to embrace immunization of any kind so long as it is approved by World Health Organization(WHO) / United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) ,the Federal and State Government.
She also refuted the rumors awash the internet peddling unfounded and false rumors that certain kinds of vaccination like monkey pox and HPV vaccination were meant to depopulate Africans saying that every vaccine was tested and proven to be good for humans before any vaccination program commences in Nigeria.
Responding to the fears, the HOD said that prelates and Senior clergymen were invited for religious Stakeholders Meeting to urge them to allow the clerics under them to sensitize their various congregations to accept the vaccination and vaccinators anytime it commences.
“Interventions that would soon commence include measles, other antigens 0 day to 59 months, HPV vaccine 9 years to 14 years. Although our health workers will move around to administer it but any child within the various age brackets can visit any Government health facility or post,” said Mrs Ojukwu.
Speaking during the Stakeholders Meeting at the Secretariat Hall, Ojoto ISLGA, the Health Educator/Social Mobilization Officer Mrs Chinyere Anogonye said that the essence of the Stakeholders Meeting was to sensitize those who will sensitize others.
Former Supervisory Councillor health, Hon Ernest Ezeunyim pleaded with the Stakeholders to support the health vaccination team anytime the measles vaccination begins so that Parents can bring out their children for vaccination.
However, various Stakeholders like Chief Hezekiah Njeakor from Oba, Mr. Chukwuma-Mary Okpara from Awkaetiti, Community Woman Leader, Nnobi, Mrs Nnekwelugo Ifeyinwa all stressed the need for Headteachers and Clergymen to to be part of the immunization campaign.
The National Orientation Agency ISLGA led by Mr Victor Obiajulu Okeke said that the they will be on ground to continue sensitization and monitoring of the measles vaccination campaign from the period of Stakeholders engagement meeting to the actual immunization period.