The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Primary Health Care Board (FCT-PHCB), has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address the issues of measles, polio, cancer in teenage girls and women, and other child-related diseases in the territory.
Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko, the acting Executive Secretary of FCT-PHCB, announced this collaboration during a media orientation for the upcoming Integrated Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) against measles, scheduled from October 26 to November 2 in Abuja.
Dr. Wamakko emphasized the importance of vaccination, urging parents to take advantage of the SIAs to immunize their children. She stated, “Prevention is better than cure; no child should suffer deformity or die when vaccines are available to prevent such outcomes.”
Dr Okoli Nicholas, the acting Director of Primary Health Care at FCT-PHCB, called on the media to disseminate accurate information to the public to ensure the success of the SIAs.
He reassured parents that the vaccines are safe, free, and readily available at primary healthcare facilities. He cautioned that misinformation could undermine health interventions aimed at saving lives.
Mrs Margaret Soyemi, UNICEF’s Country Head of Social and Behaviour Change, highlighted the crucial role of the press in communicating the right messages to prevent child deaths. She stated, “For UNICEF, immunization is a key deliverable for children because many diseases can be prevented with vaccines. There is no need for a child to die when there are services available to prevent such tragedies.”
She encouraged parents to take advantage of the immunization services and campaigns, stressing the need for collaboration between UNICEF, the media, and health authorities to promote the health of Nigerian children.
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