The paramount traditional ruler of Anambra West Local Government Area and the traditional ruler of Ukwalla, Igwe Joseph Ajodo and the traditional ruler of Nzam, Igwe John Nwachukwu Ogugua, through the support of SYDANI recently flagged off Outbreak Response (OBR 2) Polio Immunization Campaign in the local government.
The traditional rulers, during the flag off stated that the royal council shall seriously deal with any community member who refuses to allow their children get vaccinated and urged the community to ensure full immunization to avoid outbreak of polio in the LGA.
The paramount traditional ruler, who during OBR1 in September 2023, flagged of Immunization in his palace at Ukwalla, during the New Yam Festival, also showed commitment and collaboration by other traditional rulers in the LGA to fight polio through absolute vaccination of all eligible children in the locality.
“The flag off by the traditional rulers is actually helping our work in the communities. Before now, our people usually reject immunization and some went to camps during immunization, but the traditional rulers are now joining efforts through the support of Sydani to make sure more community people are taking polio immunization. When we started, it was not easy but now, Anambra West have started doing well in terms of immunization performance in the state”.
The Social Mobilization Officer, Anambra West, Mrs. Okeke Christiana specified that flag off by traditional rulers across some LGAs in the state is an initiative of Sydani, through the SoRTLE Project.
She further said that flag offs by the traditional rulers, in conjunction with other important stakeholders is gradually gaining ground in the state.
The Sydani State Lead, Anambra State, Mr. Nwekeagu Shadrach said the initiative is to optimize uptake of immunization and other PHC services in the state by leveraging on the influence of traditional and religious leaders across all communities of the state.
“OBR 1 was a campaign and social mobilization activity in the state by Sydani Group. It gave Anambra State a better stand at the national. We are here to do it again; leveraging on the influence of the traditional and religious rulers to optimize the uptake of immunization and other PHC services across all communities in the state. We have before now deployed strategic social mobilization activities to motivate and influence the people of Anambra State, especially the low performing LGAs uptake Immunization service”
“We are presently supporting palace flag off by many traditional rulers in the state and we are not surprised it’s yielding efforts as you can see community members en masse for the immunization of their children at the various flag off”, he said.
