By Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners, has called on religious and traditional leaders to counter myths and misconceptions surrounding vaccination and promote practices that protect women and children from preventable diseases.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), Professor Nusirat Elelu, made the call at a one-day orientation programme for religious leaders on promoting positive norms through the Faith-For-Life approach, held at Fresh Hotel, Fate Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Professor Elelu described religious and traditional leaders as influential figures who command trust and respect in their communities, stressing that their involvement was critical to addressing maternal, newborn and infant mortality, improving immunisation uptake and promoting positive health-seeking behaviours.
She expressed concern that some religious beliefs, cultural barriers and misinformation discourage families from accessing essential healthcare services, including blood transfusion, Caesarean section and routine immunisation.
“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 emphasised that protecting the lives of women and children was a collective responsibility, noting that every pregnant woman deserved appropriate antenatal care and that concerted efforts were needed to reduce stillbirths and prevent avoidable maternal and infant deaths.
She also highlighted the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, routine immunisation and timely access to healthcare services.
Professor Elelu urged religious leaders to bridge information gaps by providing accurate health information, addressing community concerns and using their influence to promote positive behavioural change.
Also speaking, the Social and Behaviour Change Specialist of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, Mr. Ibrahim Tsado, urged religious leaders to take responsibility for dispelling myths and misinformation about vaccines in their respective communities.
Tsado encouraged participants to educate their congregations and communities on the importance of immunisation, describing vaccination as a safe and approved means of protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
He explained that vaccines undergo stringent regulatory processes before approval, making them among the highly regulated health products worldwide.
The UNICEF representative called on religious leaders to promote accurate information, address misconceptions and encourage parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive routine immunisation, stressing that community acceptance was essential to improving vaccination coverage and protecting children.
Similarly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) State Coordinator, Dr. Emmanuel Eyitayo, emphasised the safety of vaccines, explaining that they undergo rigorous assessment before approval by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
In her remarks, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State Coordinator, Dr. Gloria Enueze, urged mothers and caregivers to ensure their children receive routine immunisation.
