Abuja health authorities are partnering with community and religious leaders to boost child vaccination coverage.
Teams visit worship centres, schools and homes to ensure children get free safe vaccines.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is working closely with religious and community leaders to improve child vaccination in Abuja and protect children from Measles and Rubella.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Bola Ajao, media adviser to the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Adedolapo Fasawe.
Ms Fasawe said vaccines are free, safe and effective, and urged parents not to allow rumors to stop them from protecting their children.
“We will continue to educate our people and assure them of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines,” she said.
FCTA takes awareness to worship centres
To increase participation, vaccination teams visited mosques and churches across Abuja.
The outreach began on Friday at the Ansar-ud-Deen Society and Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Foundation, and continued on Sunday at churches including Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and Christ Holy Church International.
Faith leaders, such as Pastor Edwin Etomi of MFM Wuye and Evangelist Anselm Ikebata, praised the government for prioritizing child health and encouraged parents to take advantage of the campaign.
Ms Fasawe said teams are reaching children in schools, homes, markets and worship centres to ensure full coverage.
Mop-up exercise and compliance measures
The vaccination campaign is being carried out with support from partners including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, WHO, IVACA and civil society groups.
Ms Fasawe revealed that reminder letters have been issued to schools that refused to comply.
She said:
“132 vaccination teams have been mobilized for a three-day citywide mop-up exercise in partnership with NPHCDA and other stakeholders.”
Parents have been turning out in large numbers, with children receiving small gifts and toys during the exercise.
