BCU vaccination: UNICEF, KSPHCDA seek stakeholders’ support in Kogi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for enhanced stakeholder support in raising public awareness about its Big Catch Up (BCU) vaccines initiative, aimed at restoring immunization progress lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amb. Dr. A.K. Hudu, UNICEF SBC/BCU Consultant, made the call during his presentation at a one-day stakeholders’ town hall meeting on BCU activities for routine immunization (RI) intensification in Lokoja.

According to Hudu, by supporting the BCU activities, UNICEF and its partners aim to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce the risk of outbreaks, and promote overall health and well-being.

Hudu emphasized that the BCU activities aim to restore immunization progress lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on vaccinating millions of children who missed essential vaccinations due to the pandemic.

While speaking on Social and Behavioral Change (SBC), Hudu defined it as a people-centered approach to understanding problems and influencing change.

He added that SBC empowers people to take action and make positive changes in their lives, using community insights and a multidisciplinary approach that integrates various fields.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to help raise adequate awareness about the BCU activities and called on governments to improve policies and services to enhance vaccine uptake.

In his remarks, the Executive Director (ED) of KSPHCDA, Dr. Musa Muazu, commended UNICEF and its partners for their unwavering support of the state in achieving universal health coverage.

Muazu reaffirmed the commitment of Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s administration to improving the quality of healthcare delivery, particularly at the grassroots level.

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He, however, stressed the need for health officers and relevant stakeholders to remain committed to their responsibilities to ensure effective service delivery for the betterment of the state.

The ED further called on political officeholders, especially local government chairmen, to champion the upcoming BCU activities in their respective areas to ensure full participation.

Speaking on “Roles of Stakeholders in Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization for BCU,” Mr. Shittu Momoh, State Health Educator, urged stakeholders to raise awareness and knowledge about vaccines and the routine immunization (RI) schedule through targeted messaging.

Momoh emphasized the need for stakeholders to reassure communities of vaccine safety and effectiveness by addressing myths, misconceptions, and rumors about vaccines.

He further called for stakeholder support to effectively disseminate messages through house-to-house, door-to-door, and community mobilization, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

“It is our collective responsibility as stakeholders to channel our efforts toward enlightening people and promoting vaccines as preventive measures against vaccine-preventable diseases in a socially and culturally acceptable manner,” he said.

On her part, Mrs. Ajuma Apeh, the State Immunization Officer (SIO), speaking on “Key Messages About Vaccines and BCU Activities,” said the BCU targets children aged 12 to 23 months, as well as 24 to 59 months, with antigens such as Penta, PCV, and IPV.

She added that the vaccination team will also vaccinate any zero-dose child identified with routine immunization antigens like BCG, OPV0, and HepB as part of the search for eligible children.

She stated that the BCU vaccination campaign activities will run from January 6th to 11th, 2025, across seven local government areas: Ankpa, Olamaboro, Dekina, Ofu, Ibaji, Bassa, and Kogi.

According to her, key aspects of BCU activities include closing immunization gaps by focusing on areas with low vaccination coverage and targeting vulnerable populations, restoring immunization progress, and strengthening health systems.

The meeting, organized by the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) in collaboration with partners, was attended by traditional and religious leaders, NGOs, CSOs, MDAs, media representatives, the Sultan Foundation, and others.

Stakeholders, in their various comments, commended UNICEF and its partners for their commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the state and the nation.

The stakeholders pledged to intensify efforts to raise awareness through public statements, events, interpersonal communication, and other means.