The better opportunities for optimal services and targeted immunization for zero dose and under immunized children (boost project) implemented by save the children international (sci) funded by Glaxo smith Kline supports community of practice on immunization budget tracking Advocacy and Accountability to review and develop immunization and health budget score card.
Addressing stakeholders on the recent pilot project in Kano known as VAXsocial the project manager Dr Felicia mairiga state that the essence of the project is to enhance vaccination coverage across Nigeria towards addressing vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, barriers to accessing immunization which majorly focus on routine immunization, HPV vaccine.
The initiative is financially supported by Global Alliance for vaccine initiative (GAVi).
The project manager Vax social said that the project will focus on seven local government areas of Kano state which include Ungoggo, Gezawa, Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, Dala Tarauni and fagge.
“As it is important to put in place social media, digital platforms and how we can use them to improve vaccination in Kano state. Most of the vaccines use in children are to prevent diseases because our children can die if they don’t receive these vaccines especially before the age of five years, she emphasized”,.
She explain that the target is to ensure most of this children survive in other to achieve the SSG goal of preventing infant mortality by the year 2030.
Dr Mairiga then stated that the HPV vaccine has been included in to the routine immunization component as cervical cancer seriously affects older women.
“ if young girls are vaccinated it will be preventable from contracting the human papilloma virus which causes cervical cancer as between girls of age 9- 14 years old are vaccinated, for this reason Vax social is focus on routine immunization because we have 36million children at risk and young girls and women can develop cervical cancer which are important target groups,she stated”,.
She highlighted that VAXsocial has a partner called Nivi, they specialize in digital telemedicine platforms, building of site and Applications, as Presently they are collaborating with them to work in communities to appreciate and under stand digital platforms, so as to continuously work with the boost project to cover a wider coverage on routine immunization.
Dr mairiga said that the initiative aims to leverage on social media to drive behavior change through digital media solutions in engaging communities to improve on vaccine uptake.
At the end of the Stakeholders engagement workshop on the development of Kano state health and immunization budget, the score card was shared amongst stakeholders to study, make input and come up with meaningful contributions
