INTERGRATED MEASLES CAMPAIGN: ASPHCDA, PARTNERS MEET HEALTH EDUCATION TEACHERS
By Nnedinma Okeke :
Following activities geared toward achieving success in the forthcoming Intergrated Measles campaign, the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in collaboration with State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and Partners, has held a one-day engagement meeting with Health Education Teachers.
The engagement meeting aimed at ensuring the State achieves its 95 percent coverage with no eligible child of nine to 59 months left unimmunized in the upcoming October 12 to 18 Measles campaign holds in Awka, Anambra capital city.
It had Health Education Teachers in attendance from schools across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State together with ASPHCDA team and Partners: NPHCDA, UNICEF, WHO, CHAI and AFENET.
Pharm Chisom Uchem, Executive Secretary, ASPHCDA, represented by Director Disease Control and Immunization, ASPHCDA, Dr Nnamdi Placid Uliagbafusi urged the Health Education Teachers to work for the inclusion of immunization in their curriculum.
She noted that the meeting would impact on the Teachers with adequate knowledge to be able to respond to questions and be Ambassadors to impact knowledge to others in their respective schools on the importance of immunization.
NPHCDA Representative, Mrs Josephine Erugo noted that the event was an opportunity to educate the teachers on Measles vaccination coming up in the state which was for the protection of the Nigerian Child.
The UNICEF SBC Consultant, Dr Uju Eze noted that UNICEF works toward the betterment of women and children and the forthcoming Intergrated Measles Campaign exercise was geared toward the betterment of children.
She urged the Health Education Teachers as Stakeholders to participate actively as they would aid in serving as Health Focal Persons in their respective LGAs which was for the good of women and children.
The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) Consultant, Dr Joseph Agboeze noted that their organisation strongly supports immunization in Nigeria in the areas of human resources with technical expertise as their field officers would be part of the campaign.
The Chilton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Technical Assistant, Mr Obinna Ezem, emphasizing that CHAI supports vaccination in Anambra State urged the Health Education Teachers to help cascade knowledge gained from the meeting in their communities for the program to be effective with desired results achieved.
The UNICEF ASUBEB Desk Officer, Mrs Cecilia Ofuonye urged for corporation of the teachers in the upcoming vaccination exercise as the meeting would aid sensitize them on informations about the campaign.
The Health Education Teachers while asking questions on areas of clarification, pledged their support toward ensuring success in the forthcoming Intergrated Measles vaccination campaign in the State.
*Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
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