By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Sokoto
Ahead of the flag-off of meningitis campaign and vaccination in Sokoto State, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has cautioned communities in the state not to pay for vaccines for the deadly disease because they are free, as UNICEF, the state government and other donors have already paid for them.
Responding to questions from a group of mothers and caregivers during a community compound meeting at Gidan Dallatu in Tudun Wada Ward of Sokoto South Local Government Area (LGA), Hajiya Fatima Bashir, Religious Focal Person for UNICEF, advised them not to give attention to anyone who asks for money to administer the vaccine.
She encouraged them to fully participate in the upcoming meningitis vaccination campaign which will be flagged off on Thursday, adding that the Islamic religion is not against the vaccination.
On her part, Zalihat Haruna, a Volunteer Ward Supervisor (VWS), at Dahala Ward 2, said the people are eagerly waiting for the commencement of the vaccination campaign.
According to her, since the commencement of the mobilisation exercise two weeks ago, the only thing the people are saying is “when are you coming with the vaccines.”
She expressed optimism that the efforts put into the mobilisation of communities, people will fully participate in the exercise.
Commenting on their preparedness, Halima Muhammad, who spoke on behalf of other Volunteers Community Mobilizers, explained that in the last two weeks, she has reached about 343 households around Gagi C Ward in the LGA.
“Anytime they see us, they are always very excited to know when the vaccines will be delivered to them. So even if the vaccination begins today, we are set for it.
“The kind of training that we have received and the mobilisation materials that we are using makes our work very easy. Especially the use of the Speak Book which is helping us to communicate easily,” she added.
UNICEF and the state government in collaboration with the Sultanate Council Committee on Health are also deploying the services of all traditional leaders through the office of district heads to support community mobilisation.
This according to analysts, would significantly impact on the current mobilisation efforts for the successful implementation of the meningitis campaign in Sokoto State.
A total of 876 VCMs are participating in the state, but 447 of them are at the nine implementing LGAs that have so far experienced the outbreak while the rest 429 from 14 non-implementing LGAs are engaged in intensive community sensitisation towards creating awareness on the prevention of the scourge.
The nine implementing LGAs are Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Bodinga, Dange Shuni, Tureta, Isa, Gwadabawa, Goronyo and Rabah.
