The Kwara State Government, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have urged religious and traditional leaders to counter vaccine misinformation and promote healthcare practices to protect children against preventable diseases.
The stakeholders made the call at a one-day orientation programme for religious leaders on promoting positive norms through the Faith-For-Life approach in Kwara State.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, said religious and traditional leaders had important roles to play in addressing misconceptions that prevent families from accessing essential healthcare services.
Elelu described the leaders as influential figures who command trust and respect in their communities, stressing that their involvement was crucial to reducing maternal, newborn and infant mortality.
She expressed concern that some religious beliefs and cultural practices discourage the use of essential medical interventions, including blood transfusion and Caesarean section.
“We need people like you to strengthen health advocacy in our communities. You occupy positions of trust and are voices of authority as imams and pastors. We need your support in addressing the challenges of maternal, newborn and infant mortality, immunisation, hygiene and sanitation, and child protection,” she said.
The executive secretary said protecting women and children required collective responsibility, urging religious leaders to encourage pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics and support efforts to reduce stillbirths.
She also highlighted the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life and routine immunisation in protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Elelu urged religious leaders to bridge information gaps in their communities by providing accurate health information, addressing public concerns and encouraging families to seek medical attention promptly.
ALSO READ: Governor AbdulRazaq Donates ₦60m to Kwara Hospital
Also speaking, the Social and Behaviour Change Specialist at UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office, Ibrahim Tsado, urged religious leaders to take responsibility for dispelling myths and misinformation about vaccines.
Tsado encouraged the participants to educate their congregations on the importance of immunisation, describing vaccination as a safe and approved means of protecting children against preventable diseases.
He explained that vaccines undergo stringent regulatory processes before approval, urging religious leaders to use their influence to correct misconceptions and encourage parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive routine immunisation.
The UNICEF representative said community acceptance was essential to improving immunisation uptake and protecting children from preventable illnesses.
Similarly, the WHO State Coordinator, Dr. Eyitayo Emmanuel, emphasised the safety of vaccines, explaining that they undergo rigorous assessment before approval by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State Coordinator, Dr. Gloria Enueze, urged mothers to ensure their children received routine immunisation.
She also encouraged pregnant women to receive recommended vaccines to protect their health and that of their unborn children.
In his remarks, the Director of Primary Healthcare Systems, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, noted that vaccines and medicines introduced into Nigeria were subject to regulatory scrutiny by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Oguntoye dismissed claims that vaccination programmes were designed to reduce Nigeria’s population.
Participants at the programme were drawn from various religious organisations, including the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI).
 and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have urged religious ........){kind=link}