In a commendable effort to enhance public health services, ad-hoc staff from the Somolu and Bariga areas have completed an intensive 3-day training program on Supplemental Immunization Activities.
The training program concluded on Wednesday and was aimed at equipping ad-hoc staff from the Somolu and Bariga communities with essential skills and knowledge to carry out Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIA) effectively.
This initiative is said to be part of a broader effort to ensure the health and well-being of the community, particularly focusing on immunization against preventable diseases like Yellow Fever, Measles, and Human papillomavirus (HPV).
The training, organized by the Lagos state health authorities in collaboration with the Federal government, billed to commence on the 19th of October and end on the 2nd of November 2024 covered various aspects of immunization activities, including the importance of vaccines, proper handling, and administration techniques, and strategies for community outreach and engagement.
Speaking shortly after the event, one of the coordinators of the programme and the Medical Officer of Health, Somolu Local Government, Dr. Bidemi Agboola revealed that the goal of this training is to empower the ad-hoc staff with the necessary skills to conduct immunization activities effectively stressing that the facilitators have provided them with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience to ensure they are well-prepared for the task ahead.
One of the Participants present at the programme, Deborah Adebola Ezekiel, however, expressed their appreciation for the training, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in improving their capacity to serve the community.
She continued, “This training has been very insightful. We have learned a lot about the significance of immunization and how to handle vaccines properly. I feel more confident now in carrying out my duties and contributing to the health of our community”.
Similarly, the Medical of Health, Bariga LCDA, Dr. Oyewole Folusho Olajumoke in her remarks highlighted further that Human Papilloma Virus and Yellow fever are part of routine immunization exercises for children and adults.
She stressed that the government expanded the scope of immunization to enable those who have taken the first dose to complete the dosage.
Meanwhile, the Health Education Officer of Somolu LG, Mrs. Afolabi Bolanle Christiana in her submission also highlighted the schedule for the immunization programme starting with the 8 densely populated wards like Igbobi/Fadeyi, Ibu-Owo, Onipanu, Bajulaiye, Omi-Owotutu to mention but few will be part the wards that will be touched. She stated that enough manpower have been engaged and trained to execute the immunization exercise.
The Supplemental Immunization Activities are crucial in maintaining high immunization coverage, especially in areas with hard-to-reach populations. The trained ad-hoc staff will now play a vital role in these activities, ensuring that more children and adults receive the necessary vaccines to protect against preventable diseases.
The successful completion of this training program marks a significant step forward in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases in the Somolu and Bariga communities. As the newly trained staff prepare to embark on their roles, the community looks forward to improved immunization coverage and better health outcomes.