The Oyo State Government has called on health structures and key stakeholders to support the success of the upcoming Sub-National Immunisation Plus Days (SNPDS) for children aged 0 to 59 months.

The Director of Health Promotion at the State Ministry of Health, Samuel Olarinde, made the appeal in Ibadan during a sensitisation meeting with education stakeholders and faith-based organisations.

Mr Olarinde, who highlighted the critical roles of community structures in vaccination campaigns, said the success of the immunisation exercise depended heavily on their cooperation.

According to him, Christian and Muslim leaders, the National Orientation Agency, private school owners, representatives of public schools and security agencies all serve as vital gatekeepers in ensuring eligible children are reached.

He stated. “All eligible children aged 0–59 months are under their care. That is why we brought all key stakeholders together to support the implementation of the programme.’’

He added that the meeting was convened to create awareness and prepare communities for the health intervention.

Mr Olarinde said that the forum would help stakeholders understand the importance of the vaccination and the diseases it protected children against.

He said that they would be expected to take the message back to their various constituencies to increase public awareness.

He disclosed that vaccination teams would cover eligible children across the 351 wards in the 33 local government areas of the state during the exercise, scheduled for between November 29 and December 2.

The director acknowledged common challenges faced during previous campaigns, including hesitancy and rejection, especially in private schools where some parents refused consent for vaccination.

“This is why we are engaging early so that school proprietors can seek parents’ consent ahead of the upcoming polio immunisation,” he said.

In her remarks, the Social and Behavioural Change Consultant for Polio, Felicia Oluwafemi, urged stakeholders to continue supporting immunisation efforts.

Commending their contributions in previous rounds, she emphasised the need for community ownership, noting that sustainability was only possible when communities treated the programme as their own.

(NAN)