Nurse and midwife students from Hill College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jos State, after completing a vaccine seminar hosted by Afrivax. Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch
Tsar Oluigbo (Lead Writer)
When Okorie Nneoma, a mother of three, first heard about the vaccination drive near her community in Nsukka, Enugu State, she was initially hesitant. Like many mothers in the village, she had concerns about vaccination and its relevance due to years of misinformation and cultural and religious beliefs. “I was scared because I had heard bad things about vaccines. I didn’t know it was to protect the (health) of my children,” she explained.
Mr Neoma was invited to the session along with many others and promised to provide accurate and reliable information on vaccination and the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) schedule. Neoma said she was not sure but was interested, but chose to attend due to various concerns about her daughter’s health.
A cross-section of women during a vaccination awareness campaign at an internally displaced person camp in Abuja.
Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch
At the event, Neoma was greeted by medical professionals who not only gave lectures but also took the time to listen to the mothers’ concerns. They answered questions, dispelled myths, and addressed concerns individually.
By the end of the session, she understood that vaccines can protect children from life-threatening diseases such as measles, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. Encouraged, she enrolled her child in an immunization program and received an immunization schedule to follow. “Nurses collected our numbers and called us to remind us of the next vaccination date. If we missed it, they followed up to find out why.” Nneoma explained.
Limited information continues to be a barrier to vaccination
Vaccines and immunization play an important role in the primary prevention of infectious diseases, providing safe and cost-effective protection, especially for infants and young children. However, children in sub-Saharan Africa bear the brunt of vaccine hesitancy stemming from parental mistrust in the vaccination process.
Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch
Even though the number of under-five deaths has decreased significantly from 12.6 million in 1990 to 5.3 million in 2018 thanks to the introduction of the EPI schedule, the region remains one of the largest under-five deaths worldwide. This region accounts for 58% of deaths and 1 in 14 children. Deaths from preventable infectious diseases can be effectively addressed through vaccination.
Nneoma’s account of vaccine reluctance is just one of many stories that contribute to a larger problem plaguing vaccinations in Nigeria. According to Dr. Efrem T. Lemango, UNICEF’s associate director for immunization, parents are hesitant when they don’t have enough information about the benefits and side effects of vaccines, so it’s important for health professionals and other people to explain the importance of vaccines to parents. They say involvement is necessary.
AfriVacx’s presence in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones aims to contribute to improving maternal and child vaccination coverage. According to Bethel Okeke, Founder of AfriVacx, since the organization was founded in October 2023, it has focused on educating and sensitizing mothers and ensuring the full vaccination of more than 200 children.
Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch
Approach as a community pharmacy.
Active community engagement that addresses fundamental health care access and immunization challenges to identify under-vaccinated and zero-dose children in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Support activities are needed depending on the location.
Bethel Okeke noted the important work undertaken by NGOs, including expanding access to vaccines, promoting public awareness and education, optimizing vaccine supply chain management, and partnering with key players in local communities. .
Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch
pharmacy model
AfriVacx also recognizes and strategically leverages the widespread presence of community pharmacies, locally known as “chemists,” in rural areas and their role as immediate medical resources readily accessible to residents. “Having vaccination points in pharmacies will make it more convenient for people to receive the vaccine, ultimately increasing vaccination rates and protecting the public from preventable diseases,” Bethel said. Explained.
He went on to say that while there are more than 1,000 health centers in Nigeria, “many of them are not very functional. Most pharmacies, which are usually the first point of contact for patients, are always open. By building strategic partnerships across pharmacies, we can reduce this gap and make vaccinations more accessible to everyone.”
Bethel believes local pharmacists can play an important role in increasing vaccine uptake. As trusted health professionals, especially in rural areas, we can not only vaccinate you but also provide important information and education about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Studies show that about one-third of parents who initially refuse vaccines change their minds after receiving proper education.
Midwife as vaccine administrator
AfriVacx recognizes the importance of midwives advising expectant parents on childhood immunizations and invests in education and training for future health professionals. “Nurses and midwives are the first point of contact for pregnant women and young mothers,” said Nnamdi Okoli, AfriVacx’s North West Zone Director. “The knowledge of nurses and midwives is essential to dispel the strong misconceptions these women have about vaccination.”
Vaccine and immunization awareness at Newhaven Health Center, Enugu.
Image credit: Nigeria Health Watch
Their commitment to the education of nurses and midwives was evident at the recent vaccine seminar held at the Hill College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jos, Plateau State. There, over 70 final year nursing students received detailed training on vaccination protocols, the importance of public health and effective vaccination. Management practices.
“In an ideal system, when administering a vaccine, patients should be informed about the medication and how they will feel after taking it,” said Gladwin Pat Enike, critical care nurse manager at Zenith Medical and Kidney Center. We need to educate and discuss this issue in detail.” And what does it do? If we do more to raise awareness, we may be able to tackle vaccine hesitancy among these women and help more children complete their vaccinations. ”
Looking to the future: A future free of zero-dose children
According to Bethel, AfriVacx’s innovative and community-centered approach has reached more than 5,000 women across Nigeria. He said the organization is reducing the number of zero doses and tackling the challenge of vaccine hesitancy through a variety of initiatives and by meeting people wherever they are, including community health centres, pharmacies and internally displaced persons camps. I explained that there was. In Nigeria.
Despite progress, significant obstacles stand in the way of achieving these goals, particularly as many women have limited educational attainment and lack of knowledge about essential health practices, such as the benefits of vaccination and effective parenting. Limited understanding. “Many of these women have started but not completed their vaccination, so it’s always a challenge to get them to complete, but we’ve seen a 65% increase in the number of these women coming back.” explained Chioma, a nurse at New Haven Healthcare Center. .
The study also found a strong relationship between parental education level and skepticism about vaccination. Notably, parents with lower educational attainment and lower socioeconomic status showed greater hesitancy toward vaccination, even when educated about its benefits.
Another challenge that interpreters must deal with is the communication barrier that exists due to language differences. To bridge this gap, health workers who are fluent in the local language of the region are trained to ensure more effective engagement with the community.
For mothers like Neoma, the difference is clear. “I used to be afraid of vaccines, but now I know they protect my children and I tell my neighbors to bring their children,” she said.
