By: Monday Munkaila, Gombe
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated that it will continue to strive to ensure that there is no Zero dose among children in the country.
It therefore stressed that everything humanly possible must be done by all stakeholders including the Media Practitioners to create behavioural changes among the community members in that regard.
The assertion was made by the Chief of Field, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique while giving an opening remarks during a 2-day Media Dialogue on Strengthening Primary Healthcare Systems: GAVI – UNICEF PHC MoU held in Gombe on Tuesday.
She also declared that there is no reason for any woman to die either during pregnancy or at the point of delivery in this modern age of technology.
The UNICEF CFO, described as unacceptable a situation where 10000 women die during pregnancy or at delivery out of 100,000 saying that it is a trend that must be checked and stopped.
She added that every hand must be on deck to seek for solutions to the problem because according to her, “Every woman has the right to good healthcare services during pregnancy until safe delivery at the facility provided.”
“I a mother, I have my children and I know the pains and joy of motherhood, no woman wants to have complications during pregnancy and delivery, no woman wants to lose a child. We must all work together to give her and her child, life,” She added.
Nuzhat Rafique also said that the issue of Zero Dose of vaccine and immunization is worrisome and must be addressed appropriately by the relevant stakeholders the more reason the GAVI – UNICEF MoU for Gombe and Taraba States was signed in 2022.
She stressed that every child must be made to have full doses of the required vaccination and immunization, that is the aim and objectives of the MoU stressing that every child must be reached no matter where he or she is.
The UNICEF CFO recognized the important role of the media in changing the narrative positively through the various platforms and sustainable reportage as well as focus on effectiveness of healthcare services delivery.
She stressed that Media practitioners must join hands with UNICEF in ensuring that women and children are kept alive through education and enlightenment campaigns.
Nuzhat Rafique therefore urged the participants at the Dialogue to make the most of the opportunity and evolve ways of passing the messages across to the target audience.
