In a renewed effort to strengthen public awareness and compliance with child immunisation, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified advocacy campaigns in collaboration with religious and community leaders.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Mrs. Bola Ajao, Special Assistant on Media to the Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe.
According to the statement, HSES has scaled up advocacy and field operations across the FCT to ensure that every child is adequately protected against vaccine-preventable diseases through timely immunisation.
Dr. Fasawe emphasised the importance of full participation in the ongoing Measles-Rubella Child Immunisation Campaign, noting that immunisation is mandated under the Child Rights Act, 2003, to safeguard children’s health.
She reiterated that vaccines provided in the FCT are free, safe, and effective, urging parents not to allow misinformation or fear to deny their children access to life-saving immunisation services.
“We will continue to educate our people and reassure them of vaccine safety and effectiveness,” Fasawe said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency and community engagement in health promotion.
Fasawe announced that the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had approved free enrolment in the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) for fully vaccinated children attending public schools.
She disclosed that enforcement of legal provisions had begun to address non-compliance, warning that parents and school owners obstructing vaccination teams would face sanctions under the Child Rights Act, 2003.
Citing Sections 13 and 14 of the Act, she reminded parents and institutions of their duty to ensure children’s immunisation, noting that failure to do so constitutes a violation of their right to health and protection.
The statement noted that field advocacy visits began on Friday in several mosques, including Ansar-ud-Deen Society and Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Foundation, to promote vaccine acceptance among Muslim communities.
On Sunday, the campaign extended to major churches such as Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and Christ Holy Church International, reinforcing interfaith collaboration for universal immunisation coverage.
Fasawe said the sensitisation drive, personally led by her, formed part of a citywide campaign to ensure that no child — whether in schools, worship centres, or markets — is left unprotected from preventable diseases.
She explained that FCTA immunisation teams had been deployed across all communities, including hard-to-reach areas, to ensure full vaccination coverage for every eligible child.
The campaign, she added, involved collaboration with traditional rulers, religious organisations, community associations, NGOs, and partners including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), UNICEF, WHO, and IVACA to achieve comprehensive outreach.
Fasawe revealed that HSES had compiled a list of non-compliant schools, issued reminder letters, and mobilised 132 vaccination teams for a three-day mop-up exercise in partnership with NPHCDA.
She said the Secretariat’s teams had covered every part of the FCT, with parents turning out in large numbers to vaccinate their children, accompanied by awareness drives and incentive gifts.
Senior Pastor Edwin Etomi of MFM commended the FCT Minister’s proactive approach to child health, while Evangelist Anselm Ikebata urged parents to seize the opportunity to secure their children’s future through immunisation.
