On the sixth attempt, Mike Ajayi, teacher at Ajoke Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, got through to one of the telephone numbers scrolled on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) station listed as open lines for parents of missed children to call during national polio immunization days. WHO Kwara State Coordinator, Dr. Omotosho Musa organized for a rapid response team to vaccinate Ajayi’s new born baby, as well as 19 of his neighbour’s children who were missed by the team.

The initiative of NTA was a welcome change from the trend where electronic media charge fees for services rendered during polio immunization days. Since the station’s area of coverage include the densely populated urban communities, this development provided residents of the metropolis opportunity to benefit from immunization services.

State Director of Primary Health Care in the Ministry of Health, Dr (Mrs) Abimbola Folorunso, added that the opportunity for parents to anonymously call, gave people courage to demand the right of their children to be immunized. She recalled the high number of parents who had rung the numbers displayed on television, as an indicator of the level of concern for ensuring children are protected from polio. There were days when she was notified about a missed child or area at midnight. Given the high volume of calls, the State Team extended the campaigns by an extra day. Also remarkable, was the involvement of the former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kola Olaosebikan, as one of those who responded to phone calls.
Receiving OPV

Mrs Roseline Arthur-Davies, Assistant Manager, News and Current Affairs, NTA Ilorin, agreed that the arrangement worked and said that the station provides other free programme platforms for promoting immunization activities. The involvement of NTA reinforces the importance of the mass media as a key partner in promoting immunization and creating demand for immunization throughout the country.

Ajayi commended NTA’s role, urging that it be sustained. He however emphasized the importance of having programme participants who are faithful to the rule of reaching every child.

opv_shangaAlready, the station is exploring ways of sustaining the initiative. Acting General Manager, Mr. Kehinde Dasilva, affirmed their readiness, in collaboration with the State, to extend the arrangement to air numbers of key contacts so members of the public could call to report on service delivery at routine immunization clinics, as well as report cases of acute flaccid paralysis in their communities. The aim is that health care providers offer the best possible services to caregivers and ensure that no child drops-out. It is also expected that all AFP cases would be reported timely.

It is hoped that the NTA challenge will spur other stakeholders in Kwara State to greater commitment to immunization activities.

- By Nosa Owens-Ibie