The Kwara State Government, in partnership with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), has urged religious leaders to counter myths and misconceptions about vaccination and promote maternal and child health.
They made the call at a one-day orientation programme for religious leaders on promoting positive norms through the “Faith-for-Life” approach on Friday in Ilorin.
Speaking at the programme, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said traditional and religious leaders commanded trust and respect in their communities, making them important partners in promoting healthcare.
Elelu said their involvement was crucial to reducing maternal and infant mortality, particularly in communities where cultural beliefs and misinformation discouraged families from seeking essential healthcare.
She said some beliefs that discouraged blood transfusions and Caesarean sections could contribute to preventable maternal deaths.
She urged religious leaders to acquire accurate health information to help dispel misconceptions and encourage communities to embrace essential health services.
“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.
According to Elelu, protecting the health and survival of women and children is a collective responsibility.
She called for appropriate antenatal care, measures to reduce stillbirths, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and routine immunisation.
The executive secretary expressed concern that misinformation, misconceptions and cultural barriers continue to delay health-seeking behaviour and prevent families from accessing essential healthcare services.
Also speaking, Mr Ibrahim Tsado, Social and Behaviour Change Specialist at the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, urged religious leaders to take an active role in dispelling vaccine myths and promoting confidence in immunisation.
Tsado said vaccines were subject to stringent regulatory processes and safety assessments before approval for use.
He urged religious leaders to use their influence to promote accurate health information and encourage parents to ensure their children received routine immunisation.
Similarly, Dr Eyitayo Emmanuel, WHO State Coordinator, reaffirmed the importance of vaccine safety, noting that relevant authorities subject all vaccines to rigorous evaluation before approval.
In her remarks, Dr Gloria Enueze, UNFPA State Coordinator, urged parents to ensure their children received routine immunisation.
Enueze also encouraged pregnant women to take recommended vaccines to protect themselves and their unborn babies.
The Director of Primary Health Care Systems, Dr Michael Oguntoye, explained that vaccines pass through several stages of testing and regulatory scrutiny, including NAFDAC assessment.
Oguntoye dismissed claims that vaccines were being used to reduce Nigeria’s population, describing allegations that immunisation programmes were designed for population control as unfounded.
He explained that donor funding for vaccine programmes does not imply that donors independently manufacture the vaccines.
He added that vaccines used in Nigeria were also used in other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
It was reported that participants at the programme included members of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Others included the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI).
