By Onwa Ekor
Issues surrounding socio-behavioural approach to foster adoption, vaccine acceptance and vaccine seeking behaviour, took centre stage as stakeholders converge in Calabar, the Cross River capital, recently.
The project, “Saving Lives and Livelihood phase 2 engagement,” with state and local government areas Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM), was organised by Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with MasterCard foundation and Red Cross Society, as the implementing partner.
Senior project officer, Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), National headquarters, Abuja, Dr. Abdulmajid Ahmad, informed that the project is expected to last between April to December 2025 and implemented across 29 African countries including Nigeria, to strengthen the capacity of African nations for adequate and sufficient pandemic and epidemic preparedness and response.
According to him, in Nigeria, the Project will be implemented in 10 states of Adamawa, Anambra, Benue, Niger, Kogi, FCT, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Cross River.
Explaining that the first phase of implementation and reporting was completed in 2023, culminating in the design of phase two of the programme, Ahmad noted that it would support the delivery of vaccines to millions of people through immunization services.
“The scope cuts across assisting in the vaccination of health workers and priority groups as part of integrated immunization services, participation of women groups in planning and implementation, young men and women with disabilities including the utilization of youth as catalyst for community change, among others,” the NRCS senior project officer said.
For the Cross River coordinator, National Primary Health care Development Agency, Dr. Idorenyin Nta, the project objectives are to provide orientation and allign its purpose and scope with government stakeholders at subnational level.
Nta added that, “the project seeks to revalidate local government areas and settlement with input from the state team while establishing a collaborative working relationship with all Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) stakeholders on Saving Lives and Livelihood at the subnational level.”
Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Cross River Primary Health care Development Agency, Kasi Eyong, affirmed that engagement of this nature would help control outbreak of diseases in the various local government areas and communities at the grassroot.
“Engagement with the local level is one important aspect of health delivery, hence proper sensitization on various key health issues would tremendously continue to impact on the citizenry,” Eyong stated.
Cross River Secretary, NRCS, Joseph Eni, applauded organisers of the project, maintaining that the idea behind the second phase is to strengthen existing system while boosting immunization data in the state.
Viewing the rainy season as a challenge to the timing of the program, Eni however assured that “we expect to have positive results when we kick start the implementation proper.”
Earlier, Chairman, Cross River Branch of NRCS, Dr. Chris-Valentine Eneji, and the State Health promotion officer in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Catherine Ukpepi, enjoined stakeholders to participate actively in the engagement meeting, as panacea for healthcare workers wellbeing, including citizenry acceptance and vaccination uptake.
