2019 AVW: Journalists tasked on improving access to vaccination

By Stanley Onyekwere

Journalists have been implored to help expand access to immunization, exposing the facts, benefits and practice of vaccination of eligible persons in the FCT.
This charge was handed down yesterday, by the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Adamu Abubakar Bappah, during a press briefing on the 2019 African Vaccination Week (AVW) celebration in the FCT.
Bappah while describing the place of Journalists as critical to the achievement of societal goals, said vaccines saves lives, help children learn, grow and prevent serious illness and disability.
He noted that media organisations and its practitioners can be vaccine heroes by highlighting the fact that any licensed vaccine has been rigorously tested before use to make sure it is safe and effective for eligible persons and their families.
According to him, in order for everyone and to survive and thrive, we must intensify efforts to ensure all eligible person receives the lifesaving benefits of vaccines.
“As we all know, expanding access to immunisation is vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), poverty reduction and universal health coverage.
“Routine immunisation provides a point of contact for health care at the beginning of life and offers every child the chance at a healthy life from the earliest beginnings and into old age.
“Immunisation is also fundamental strategy in achieving other health priorities from controlling viral hepatitis, to curbing antimicrobial resistance, and providing a platform for adolescent health and improving antenatal and newborn care.”
Acting Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Healthcare Development Board (PHCDB), Dr. Ndaeyo Iwot, stressed the need to ensure that eligible children especially those within the unreached communities in FCT are covered during the 2019 campaign.
Iwot urged stakeholders to be the vanguards for awareness about immunization programme in the Fct, so as to receive the benefit of life-saving vaccines.
PeoplesDaily reports that 2019 AVW themed: ‘Protected Together: Vaccines Work’, which will be celebrated from April 2-30, aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of all immunisation throughout life.