The Zamfara chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called on health stakeholders to increase public awareness against infodemic to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation about vaccination.

The state NMA chairman, Ibrahim Hano, made the call on Saturday in Gusau while speaking at the Scientific Conference and Ordinary General Meeting of the Association.

The theme for the conference is “Healthy Beginning, Hopeful Future, Infodemic as Drivers for Vaccine Hesitancy: The Effects and the Way Out.”

Mr Hano said the topic was widely chosen considering the effects of the infodemic on the polio vaccine and other related vaccinations.

He said that in Nigeria, the hesitancy was increasing, especially with the introduction of new vaccines since the onset of COVID-19.

Mr Hano said, “You know, a healthy beginning of a human being must start with a cycle of a healthy child because healthy children produce healthy adults, and healthy adults also produce healthy children.

“We start with vaccination because when children are well vaccinated and protected from child killer diseases, it will make them grow healthier, to start with a healthy beginning of their lives.”

He stated that social media was becoming stronger in society, just as people’s awareness of internet access was waxing stronger.

“We felt it was very necessary for us to be aware of the issue of infodemic and its effects on the issue of vaccination.

“We felt it is necessary to sensitise the doctors to know more about it and how to overcome it.

“I think government and partners should increase more enlightenment and training of health care providers to know more about the infodemic,” the NMA chairman stated.

Also, the state NMA vice chairman, Muhammed Salahudeen, said the topic was rightly chosen for Zamfara, especially on polio and non-polio-related issues.

Mr Salahudeen said one of the major issues related to vaccination in Zamfara was non-compliance and mismanagement of information.

He added, “This is timely; I believe the NMA, in collaboration with other partners, are coming together to raise awareness of the general public on the importance of polio vaccination.”

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the occasion and medical director of the Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, Aminu Nahuche, commended the NMA for always choosing the right topics for presentation on the development of the healthcare system.

He assured the NMA of continued support and collaboration with other stakeholders to promote the state’s healthcare system.

(NAN)