From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Borno State government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have adopted a new approach of immunisation of 2.1 million children against preventable diseases through community youths advocacy teams.
Officer-in-Charge UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Mr Joseph Senesie, disclosed this on Tuesday in Maiduguri at the launch of the new initiative for immunisation of underserved communities targeting to reach 2.1 million children in the state.
“We adopted the innovative approach, where UNICEF is working with youth in Borno State to ensure children are vaccinated. As you all know, vaccination is critical to prevent disease, and we are talking about children that have never received vaccination, zero dose.”
He said the initiative with the theme The ADOPT-A-PHC challenge, is
to catch up the immunisation gap and ensure children are vaccinated against measles, polio and other preventable diseases.
“We are planning to immunise 2.1 million children against preventable deaths,” Senesie explained.
The UNICEF chief also explained that 30 youths drawn from the community vanguards, will work with health workers in Maiduguri metropolis and adjoining Jere Local Government to drive the vaccination campaigns at 10 primary healthcare facilities.
“UNICEF is providing technical capacity and the necessary financial support through donors, in particular the Canadian International.”
A brief by the the global body indicates that the exercise is a three- month advocacy (Challenge) for 10 teams of young people who will adopt a Primary Health Centre/community, and improve the number of children vaccinated.
UNICEF said the team with the highest number of improvement will be commended and share its tactics during the close-out event at the end of three months.