A non-governmental organization, Health Education and Empowerment Initiative, has creatively celebrated the World Immunization Week from April 23 to 27 and World Malaria Day on April 25.
Health Education and Empowerment Initiative’s week-long activity started on April 23 and ended on April 27, with Sona Agro Allied Company sponsoring the event.
Folasade Ofurune, speaking at the event, said the 2018 activity for World Immunization Week and World Malaria Day is designed to be broad in approach, scope and target population.
On Monday, the HEDEN team began with a house to house campaign along the railway lines in Arepo, Ijoko community of Ogun State.
The group spoke to rail construction workers and passersby.
The campaign team wore T-shirts with words aimed at motivating parents to immunize their wards.
Their white and blue T-shirts read in bold print: “Vaccinate Your Children” and: “Immunization save 2-3 Lives Worldwide From Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.”
The campaign team discussed with parents on the importance of vaccination and debunked myths on immunization.
Community members were given handbills promoting immunization and child care.
They emphasized the benefits of immunization, which are: immunization promotes well being, immunization saves cost and immunization prevents diseases.
In recognition of men as stakeholders in immunization, the campaign team on Tuesday took the message to Ajowa lorry and tipper drivers and owners association at Ijoko.
The discussion included benefits of immunization, the cost-effectiveness of vaccination, distribution of handbills and a question and answers session.
HEDEN has been working with this group of men and chose them as a target population for the World Immunization Week.
The men expressed gratitude for the enlightenment they received.
On Wednesday, HEDEN set up at the tent by the road with banners of World Immunization Week and World Malaria.
Community members and passersby were invited to attend the occasion.
The discussion included advantages of immunization, awareness on immunization schedule, distribution of handbills and a question and answer session.
HEDEN conducted free testing and treatment of Malaria for the community members.
Also, babies were vaccinated based on their immunization schedule card because it has been approved by the primary health care board to carry out vaccination.
The event, which started 9am, ended at 4pm.
On Thursday, the campaign team went on road walk and campaign along Arepo Road for four hours.
They spoke to passersby, shop owners, okada riders, street traders and people at home.
They also distributed handbills.
On Friday, HEDEN able team went to Fadunsi Community on the house to house campaign.
Immunization promotion message was spread, handbills were distributed and questions were answered.
The total beneficiaries were: Railway lines houses and rail construction workers and passersby, about 500; Ajowa lorry and tipper drivers and owners association – 62; attendance at the combined World Malaria Day and World immunization week event – 127; Arepo Road walk beneficiaries – about 630; Fadunsi Community beneficiaries.
Ofurune further stated that HEDEN has enjoyed an excellent Corporate Social Responsibility relationship with Sona Agro Allied Company overtime and the company’s support for these world events is well appreciate because HEDEN was able to exceed it target initial population due to Sona Agro Allied Company’s support.
She implored other corporate bodies to support HEDEN’s mission, which is: “To build the capacity of vulnerable groups and underserved population through information, education, communication and health programs so that individuals and communities can live meaningful lives, improve their well-being and have a sense of dignity in a ‘new community.’”