By Rauf Oyewole
The United Nations Children's Fund in collaboration with the Bauchi State Government have deployed Fathers-4-Good Health and Mama-2-Mama, groups of community mobilisers, targeting children with zero dose for an integrated vaccination at the hard-to-reach rural and urban areas.
Measles and Rubella affect children under-5 years, especially the unvaccinated who are most at risk in addition to pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, elderly, and malnourished individuals.
The ongoing national campaign against Measles-Rubella is meant to run for 10 days across the primary healthcare facilities and outposts.
It was observed in Azare, Katagum local government area of Bauchi that parents trooped out with their kids to get vaccinated across different wards.
The exercise included an integrated vaccination on routine immunisation (0-23 month), Measles-Rubella (9months-14 years), Polio (0-59 months), HPV (Girls 9 years), Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Malaria (SMC).
One of the Fathers-4-Good Health team, a volunteer group championing women and children’s welfare, Auwalu Mohammad, observed that residents of the area were easily convinced about the vaccine due to the rising cases of measles that has killed some children.
According to him, “Many of them are afraid of Anthrax and other dangerous diseases that had affected the children; they quickly submitted the kids for the integrated vaccination.”
Also, a Polio Social Behaviour Change Manager for outbreak countries, at UNICEF Headquarters, Panchanan Achari, commended the activities of the men and women mobilisation structures at the rural communities, working for the welfare of children and women.
According to him, the turnout showed the readiness of the country to vaccinate 106million children. “I'm really impressed by the mobilisation efforts by the community structure –Fathers-4-Good Health and Mama-2-Mama and others. They are doing a fantastic job here,” he said.
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