By Becky John
Malam Sani Abubakar, chairman, Association of Civil Society Organisations Working in Malaria, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Kogi chapter, has solicited media partnership to ensure the immunization of women and children. Abubakar who made the call at a Civil Society Organisation/Media Roundtable in Lokoja on Saturday, said increased access to vaccines would enhance protection against life-threatening diseases, especially among pregnant women and children.
He said the occasion was part of activities marking the World Immunization Week, with the theme “Close the Immunization Gap” which focused on global platform to strengthen collective efforts at ensuring vaccination for every child.
Abubakar said immunization had over the years proven to be a tool for the control and elimination of life-threatening infectious diseases. He hinted that statistics had shown that estimated three million deaths were being averted yearly through immunization of children between the ages of one to five and pregnant mothers.
The chairman said that to close the immunization gap by increasing vaccine uptake at the grassroots level, media collaboration was required. According to him, such collaboration is also needed to increase community participation in immunization activities, through education and communication, to create demands for vaccines.
Abubakar enumerated the role of Civil Society Organisations on immunization, to include partnership with government as important actors in implementing immunization programmes, as well as strengthening health systems and training health workers. He said others are suporting vaccine delivery, ensuring transparency and accountability by bridging the gap between governments or global health actors and communities, and influencing public policy.
