Most societies believe that it is the duty of the woman to take newborn babies to the hospital for immunization.
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This is why most times one goes to a medical facility, almost all the babies coming for immunization are brought by women.
It was surprising however to sport one man in the midst of over eighty women who brought children in for routine immunization at the Bukuru Express Primary Healthcare Centre, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau state.
When asked why he was the one that brought his daughter to the hospital instead of his wife, Mr. Gideon Mark, says ” immunization is a family affair”
He advised men to be supporting their wives in taking their children to the hospital and generally taking care of their children.
“My wife put to bed yesterday and she’s not feeling very strong. So, I decided to bring the child for immunization. Immunization is a family thing. If you don’t immunize the child against child killer diseases and anything happens to the baby, it is not just the woman that will lose. The man too will. So, it is important for men to get involved the in immunization of their children” Mr. Mark said.
He also called on persons who kick against children immunization to desist from doing that.
According to Mr. Mark, ” there are a lot of diseases out there that children need to be prevented from through immunization.
“Diseases such as Polio, Measles, Hepatitis B amongst others”. He said.
Mr. Mark commended UNICEF for providing the vaccines for the children and encourage them to continue to do something and save the lives of children worldwide and Nigeria in particular.
According to the Chief Nursing Officer of the Bukuru Express Primary Healthcare Centre, Mrs. Mary Walu, over two hundred children are immunized weekly at the centre.
She said that they do not run out of vaccines because UNICEF supplies the centre with adequate dose of vaccines and other technical supports.
She stressed that women from far and near bring their children for immunization and are all cared for.
On other things that attract women to the centre, Mrs. Hanatu Agwom, says women enjoy coming for health talks, exercise, family planning lecture and COVID-19 prevention advice.
She said that following UNICEF determination to make sure that Polio stays out of Nigeria, the takes Oral Polio Vaccine immunization seriously.
We also give “BCG, HPV, Hepatitis B and other immunizations.
She said that immunization is carried out daily at the centre but Tuesdays are fun days as there are more women who come out not just for immunization but to interact and network.
UNICEF is supporting the Intensification of Routine Immunization activities to address zero dose and missed communities in eight (8) Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
