By Stanley Onyekwere
In furtherance to its resolve to widen coverage of the ongoing Measles -Rubella integrated vaccination exercise, the FCT Administration at the weekend took the campaign to children and leaders in religious places mostly within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
In particular, FCTA officials from the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) separately on Friday and Sunday took vaccine services and advocacy to some muslims and christians respectively in some selected worship centres in the territory.
The move, which is part of reinvigorated intensive field activities to ensure that every child is protected against preventable diseases, commenced on Thursday with a press briefing at the FCT Public Health Emergency Operations Center, where the HSES Mandate Secretary, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe addressed members of the press on the enforcement drive to improve compliance with the ongoing child Immunisation Campaign (Measles-Rubella) under the Child Rights Act, 2003.
Fasawe, who led the field campaign on behalf of the FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike, explained that the initiative is targeted at increasing awareness, mobilising of parents and residents for the ongoing integrated vaccination exercise across the six Area Councils.
She noted that the vaccination supported by development partners is meant for children from 0-15 -years, and doesn’t have over dose issues.
She added that immunisation in the FCT is free, safe, effective, and secures the future of every child, emphasising that ignorance or misinformation must never be an excuse for non-compliance.
She also revealed that the FCT Minister has approved free enrolment into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) for every child fully vaccinated in public schools across the Territory.
She also noted that the Administration has begun enforcing relevant legal provisions to address non-compliance or obstruction of vaccination teams, warning that violators, including parents and school owners, will face sanctions under the Child Rights Act.
According to her, sections 13 and 14 of the Act mandate parents, guardians, and institutions to ensure that every child is fully immunised, and denying such access constitutes a violation of a child’s right to health and protection.
However, building on the momentum from the briefing, field advocacy visits commenced on Friday, targeting various mosques and Islamic centers across Abuja, including the Ansar-ud-Deen Society and Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Foundation.
The exercise continued on Sunday with visits to major churches such as the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and Christ Holy Church International.
It was observed that the advocacy visits, led by Dr. Fasawe formed part of the wider citywide sensitisation campaign aimed at ensuring that no child—whether in school, church, mosque, market, or playground is left unprotected from preventable diseases.
In the same vein, other FCTA immunisation teams were deployed across various districts and communities, including hard-to-reach areas and places of worship, to guarantee comprehensive coverage and ensure that every eligible child was reached.
A common feature at all the religious places visited was that parents turned out in large numbers to have their children immunised, and with expression of appreciation to the Wike-led FCTA for encouraging participation through intensive advocacy and stakeholders’ engagement, as well as distribution of gifts, party packs, and toys to children.
Receiving the team at the MFM, International Headquarters Annex, Wuye – Abuja, the Senior Regional Overseer, Pastor Edwin Etomi commended FCT Administration for considering the church for the free vaccination of the children.
“We want to appreciate the FCT Administration for choosing MFM as one of the vaccination centres.
“We can see that you have covered most of the children, and every other faith-based institution, we encourage them to do likewise”, he said.
One of the MFM church members, Akaakar Akaakar, a father of six after presenting his eligible children for vaccination, called on other parents to do same.
“The vaccination is free from harm, and there is no over dose, so I encourage all parents especially members of the church to bring out there children to be vaccinated”, Akaakar said.
Also, when Fasawe led the team to Christ Holy Church International, Area 1 branch, Abuja, where she presented the same message, the clergyman, Evangelist Ikebata Anselm, who called on the members to embrace the vaccination exercise, as it helps build and protect the future of the society.
