By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday said it is targeting to vaccinate no fewer than 1,136,952 children, during the forthcoming Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Non Polio supplemental and measles immunization in Ogun State.

The exercise, which is scheduled to take place between 5th and 11th October, 2024, in all states in Southwest zone and Edo State is targeted at children from zero to 59 months.

The UNICEF’s Social and Behavioural Change Specialist (SBCS), Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, disclosed this at a one-day zonal Media Orientation workshop on NPSIA South West zone and Edo State, that took took place in Oyo, Oyo State.

According to Akinola-Akinwole, Ekiti State is expected to immunize 624,554 children, Ondo state is targeting 919,000 children, while Ogun state is targeting 1, 136, 952 children.

She noted that the workshop was to enlighten parents that the vaccines are safe and free for the children.

She added that the vaccines have proven to be effective in eradicating some diseases such as smallpox, measles, urging parents to avail their children the opportunity of the free immunization during the vaccination exercise across the country.

“We are hopeful that this campaign will be very successful, however, we also envisaged that there might be rejection and non-compliance from parents to allow their children to be vaccinated”.

While assuring parents that the vaccines are safe, she noted that it is to increase the immunity of their children against measles which is a deadly disease and cause mortality.

“We want them to accept the vaccines for the children because it is a healthy child that makes the society. We are all collaborators in progress. It takes a parent to give birth to a child, but it takes a community and villages to raise a child. We have a responsibility at ensuring that children are safe from vaccines preventable diseases and the measles vaccine presented to us is an opportunity to keep our children healthy from measles.

“We are aware that, there are myths and misconceptions that debar people from taking the vaccine because it depicts their trust about taking the vaccines. However, we want parents to know that the vaccines are safe and effective and they are free.

“Over the years, we’ve seen that the vaccines have proven to be effective in eradicating small diseases such as smallpox, and so, why do we choose to deny our children from things that can affect them through vaccines. So by allowing your child to be vaccinated you have actually increased the survival rate of your children and that is the responsibility of every stakeholder and parents.

“The programme is going to be for one week, so that no child is missed out. We are using this opportunity to get routine immunization not just the measles campaign.

“Across the South West states, except Lagos, the campaign will kick off on October 5, 2024. We want the media to help us raise awareness and to build vaccines trust and acceptance.

Also speaking, the UNICEF Programme Director, Oyo State, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, appealed to media professionals to help in eradicating misinformation and misconception about immunization, especially the measles campaign coming up next week.

Mr. Babalola charged participants to enlighten members of the public on the relevance of immunization saying that taking it would eradicate diseases like Polio, HPV among others.

He said the workshop was to strengthen the relationship between UNICEF, government and the media and improve the living of the children.

He solicited for the cooperation of the media as a critical stakeholder to create an environment where knowledge, attitude and practices within the society.

Some of the representatives of the states at the training said different efforts such as community engagement and media publicity have been put in place to ensure success of the measles campaign.