*We are leaving no stone unturned – UNICEF
By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
The National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign is currently making significant strides in Sampou and other communities within Kolu Okuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Health officials, volunteers, and community members have come together with a shared mission to ensure that every eligible child receives vital vaccinations aimed at preventing debilitating childhood diseases such as polio and measles.
At the forefront of this grassroots effort is Madam Tautua Oke, a respected health advocate and the NIPDs house-to-house supervisor. Speaking to reporters, Madam Oke underscored the critical importance of immunization in protecting children’s health. “No child should be left behind. We are here to ensure that every child between the ages of 5 and 15 receives the necessary vaccines to grow healthy and strong,” she affirmed.
The campaign has witnessed robust participation from parents and caregivers who have flocked to vaccination posts strategically set up across the communities. In addition, immunization teams have been conducting door-to-door visits to reach families residing in more remote and hard-to-access areas. The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many residents acknowledging the invaluable role immunization plays in preventing outbreaks of life-threatening diseases.
Madam Oke also highlighted the vital collaboration between the local government health department, traditional leaders, and community-based organizations. She noted that sustained community engagement is a cornerstone of the campaign’s success, emphasizing that “the partnership between these stakeholders has been instrumental in driving awareness and acceptance of the immunization program.”
The NIPDs campaign is part of Nigeria’s comprehensive nationwide initiative to eradicate preventable childhood diseases and maintain the country’s polio-free status. This effort is supported by the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), all working together to boost routine immunization coverage across the country.
Monitoring the campaign’s progress closely, a correspondent under the auspices of UNICEF toured the communities to assess compliance levels. During the Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board Room NIPDs Feedback session held on Day 3 at the WHO Conference Room in the Ministry of Health building, Dr. Eghe Abe, Health Specialist at UNICEF’s Port Harcourt Field Office, expressed satisfaction with the campaign’s outcomes.
Dr. Abe acknowledged some challenges with the e-tally system used for data collection, noting that some field workers lacked Android phones or were unfamiliar with the technology, necessitating on-the-spot training. Despite these hurdles, he praised the dedication of the immunization teams. “We moved from house to house, and every child we encountered was vaccinated. This shows that the teams are doing an excellent job,” he said.
Reflecting on the improvements since the last campaign round, Dr. Abe attributed the positive results to the strong leadership exhibited in the state. “The level of commitment from Bayelsa’s leadership deserves commendation. We are seeing real progress,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Dr. Abe emphasized the need to focus on areas where coverage might still be lacking to ensure continuous improvement. “UNICEF and our partners are working tirelessly to make sure the NIPDs program succeeds in Bayelsa State. No child should have any reason to contract polio, especially with the high level of awareness created among parents about the importance of immunization,” he concluded. “We will not rest until every child in the state is fully immunized.”
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, has called on teachers across the state to fully comply with and support the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) programme to ensure the health and well-being of children.
Prof. Brisibe emphasized the critical role educators play in sensitizing parents and guardians about the importance of immunization.
He urged teachers to cooperate with health officials and encourage parents to have their children vaccinated during the ongoing NIPDs campaigns.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Bayelsa Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Appah Williams said the activities went on very well in the this second round.
. “We try to close the loose end we discovered in the last campaign. Our publicity,our awareness campaign, our communications were excellent this time. We only have pocket of few persons that can say they are not are aware, but the awareness is not zero it’s the level of awareness that might not be massive in those areas”.
“We did a lot of campaigns for this program, we did road show in Yenagoa the state capital. The Bayelsa Bikers Club joined us, we have that advocacy and publicity from Igbogene to secretariat, I think that is massive enough. I think we have an improved vaccinations NIPDS and the deputy governor is standing in commitment in ensuring that no child is left behind in the process. And also other vaccines and other antigen were carried along during the campaign
