By Ovat Abeng
The Nigerian Red Cross Society in collaboration with both National and State Primary Health Care Development Agencies has begun training of no fewer than 35 Facilitators to strengthen routine immunization in three Local Government Areas in Anambra State.
The training being implemented under the phase two ‘Saving lives and Livelihood” project, is funded by MasterCard Foundation supported by Africa Centre For Disease Control.
We gathered that the selected local government areas included Anambra West, Ogbaru and Nnewi North.
READ ALSO: How Northerners are working behind the scene to bring in Former President Jonathan in 2027
Speaking during the training session at the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Anambra State Secretariat, Awka, on Thursday, Senior Project Officer, (NRCS), Dr Ahmad Abdulmajid, described the project expected to last for six months as a critical milestone in the nation’s efforts to improve capacity on preparedness for outbreaks.
“In Nigeria, the project is being implemented in 10 states, out of the 10 states, Anambra is one and in Anambra three local government areas have been identified.
“Overall, we want to see a Nigeria or Anambra State that is strong in terms of preparing to protect the general public against any outbreak that may come and then also to prepare in case where the outbreak come, they can be able to fight it.”
The Director of Advocacy and Communication, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Aliyu Ladan, represented by Mr Felix Ajidua, described the project as laudable.
He added that 25 Data Collectors and Volunteers were trained on vital data collection instruments and apps, Kobo Collect and Open Data Kits(ODK) to enhance evidence based programming.
“We are also training the Data Collectors for the three local government areas on how to build trust and good listening skills in course of the exercise in the communities.
“Our aim is to provide orientation and align the project purpose and scope with government stakeholders at the sub national level.”
Contributing, State Health Educator, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, the partners provided technical and financial support for the project aimed at optimally improving routine immunization in the three local government areas.
“So, when we create demand, the service delivery components, they will now bring out eligible children for immunization because we don’t want any of the eligible child to be missed.
“We want all the eligible children to be vaccinated with all these vaccine preventable diseases so that there will be no outbreak. We are training the Data Collectors and Volunteers which the local government social mobilization officers will supervise.
“We keep telling our society that our vaccine is safe, free and effective, so let us join hands together to prevent all these preventable diseases especially now that Diphtheria is everywhere,” Onwuegbuzina stated.
The State Branch Secretary, Nigeria Red Cross Society, Engr Kingsley Okoye, emphasized the critical role of data collection in combating preventable diseases, noting that the training was the culmination of the project”Saving Lives and Livelihood” Initiative.
The training session which was described as apt had in attendance Officials of Primary Health Care Development Agencies, Social Mobilization officers, Educators and other stakeholders.
