Ogun Govt Moves To Boost Vaccination In Schools , Partners UNICEF On Training Of Health Education Teachers

 

Ogun State Government in partnership with United Nations Children's Education Fund(UNICEF ) has  trained teachers teaching Health Education subject.in schools, enlightening them on the advantages of government health intervention programmes, so as to  sensitise learners on the benefits of vaccination and other related issues.

The State Health Education Officer, Mr. Waheed Elegbede, while speaking during the training, organised by the Primary Healthcare Development Board in collaboration with United Nations Children's Education Fund, in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area of the State, emphasised the need for proper education on the importance of various government health programmes,  particularly for children.

      

Elegbede noted that the objective of the training was to create awareness, encourage better health behavioural change, enhance sectoral collaboration for education-health partnership.

     

 ‘’The role of Health Education teachers is essential in knowledge impartation, because they are the mouthpiece in their various schools to disseminate the right information on vaccination and other health related interventions for  students and parents through necessary means’’, he stated 

     

 In her presentation, one of the facilitators, Mrs. Olubunmi Opayemi, who gave the update on Non-Polio Supplemental Immunisation Activities (NPSIA), said the last Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign was achieved despite the misconceptions, saying the engagement of Health Education teachers would allay the fear of parents and students on immunisation and vaccination activities.

      

On his part, Consultant on Social Behavioural Change, UNICEF, Dr. Pita Obam, commended the state government for prioritising health of its citizenry, imploring the teachers to propagate government's health programmes by dispelling any associated rumours and misinformation.

      

Responding on behalf of the participants, Mr. Peter Olalowo and Adeola Fatunmbi, appreciated the organisers for the training, promising to put in their best to improve health of children.