Kogiflame
The Programme Manager for Notify Health Nigeria, Ibrahim Ahmad Ilyasu has disclosed that they have been able to reach to over 84,000 people through SMS text messages and call reminders to immunize their infants across Kogi state.
Speaking with Newsmen during the two day capacity building training for field officers which took place in Lokoja, he noted that the training will significantly improve the activities of the field workers in terms of supporting the health workers on routine immunization.
He also stressed that five local government areas were involved in this phase of the project.
According to him, as time goes by, the program will be expanded to reach more local governments and facilities in the state.
His words, “It will also give us the opportunity to enroll as many infants as we can and get them immunized. We hope that this expansion and this capacity building for field officers will improve immunization outcome across Kogi state, significantly. Through SMS and call reminders, we have seen a significant improvement in terms of immunization.
Also speaking, the State Programme Manager of Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF), Ikechukwu Mpama said the training is designed to improve the capacities of the field officers on the immunization reminder projects, adding that the idea of the project is to increase immunization rates in Kogi state by working with health facilities at selected local government areas in the state.
He noted that information relating to the immunization of the wards of caregivers will be collected and digitized and thereafter a text message and voice calls system that reminds them of the time for immunization will be deployed so that they will not miss the immunization appointment.
“So this training is to ensure that the field officers who will be engaging with these facilities, understand the project very well and are able to carry it out properly in their various communities of engagement. In fact, some of the survey report summary of the outcome of the pilot that was done indicates that many caregivers and facilities reported that the immunization rates has increased, the default rate had reduced, more people were coming and meeting up with their appointments as a result of this particular project in those local government areas and facilities.
One of the cluster supervisors of RECEF, Mrs Okeji Oyiza Fatayat said the training will boost their capacity to support health workers when they get to the field.
” I think this program is one of the best so far that have happened in Kogi State, especially as it involves reminder messages to caregivers, helping them to avoid preventable deaths and illnesses by taking these vaccinations that they are due for.
“Notify Health through RECEF has been able to help improve immunization awareness and even immunization uptake through the reminder messages and calls that we send to caregivers and also engenders systems strengthening of the primary health care centers in different wards of the different local government that we’re implementing the programme.
Speaking also Dr. Onimisi Abdullahi, Director, Community Health Services and Social Development , Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, commended the Notify Health for creating awareness on routine immunization in Kogi state
He promised the continued collaboration of his Agency with the Notify Health and the field implementing organization, RECEF to advance the effective destination of timely information reminders, thereby ensuring that more children have asses to immunization.
Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, the Executive Director of Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF) on his part said, it is an honor to contribute positively to the health sector of the state, especially by infusing communication technology into the existing routine immunization program of the state to improve uptake for the under-immunized and zero- dose children across the state.
