From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
In collaboration with the Office of the Katsina First Lady, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday launched the Majalisan Rigakafi initiative aimed at encouraging men and male parents to scale up their participation in the immunisation drive, with the goal of achieving a polio-free Katsina.
UNICEF’s 2024 indices indicate that fully immunised children in Katsina State stand at 45 per cent—a distressing figure that may continue to foster polio virus transmission in the area if not addressed.
With the introduction of the Majalisan Rigakafi men’s group, the initiators are optimistic that the move will improve these statistics, ultimately aiming to eradicate the scourge of the polio virus.
“Our vision is to scale up this initiative so that all men and fathers become members, committed to making a difference for improved immunisation coverage and global polio eradication,” said UNICEF Kano Field Office Chief, Mr Rahama Mohammed Farah, in a message delivered at the launch.
According to him, “Our children should not die from diseases that are easily preventable with vaccines, and today, fathers and men have come together to help us achieve the goal of zero dose and polio-free Katsina.”
Launching the project, the Katsina First Lady, Hajia Zulaihat Dikko Radda, lamented what she described as “cultural norms and lack of support from the men,” which have been a setback to effective polio immunisation coverage in the state.
She said:
“Our journey towards achieving universal healthcare for every woman, child, and family in our state places significant emphasis on gender inclusiveness and recognises the importance of men and women as partners in building healthier communities.
“Over the years, we have made remarkable progress in improving access to healthcare; however, some of our challenges remain. Low immunisation rates, misconceptions about vaccines, and limited access to primary healthcare services continue to threaten the health and well-being of our people, especially women and children.
“It is evident that if we do not succeed in addressing these challenges, we must adopt an innovative, community-focused strategy that can harness the collective power of our people.
“This platform empowers community members, both men and women, to engage in open and informal discussions about immunisation, antenatal care, child nutrition, and other primary healthcare services.
“The platform is focused on gender mainstreaming because, in many communities, women bear the primary responsibility for the health of their families. Yet, they often face barriers such as lack of support from their male counterparts and cultural norms that limit their decision-making power.
“The platform also empowers men not only to participate in the healthcare of their families but also to advocate for their families and communities by fostering joint discussions and sharing responsibilities,” she said.