Health
By Hajara Leman,
From the onset, the parents were unequivocal in driving home their stand—immunising their children is a `no go area’. It is a taboo.
They also grew up in households where vaccines were viewed with suspicion, if not outright disdain.
They believed that natural remedies were the best solutions to diseases, whatever the variant.
To defend this awkward disposition, they were always quick to remind any doubting Thomas that when they were toddlers they were never vaccinated but remained as solid as the rocks.
This twisted line of thinking had sank deeply in them, establishing a permanent place of abode in their minds into believing that ‘natural immunity’ is better than the acquired one.
Now as parents, they believed that sustaining the age-long tradition was a sacred duty to their children to protect them from diseases.
This scenario marked the beginning of the epic battle of misunderstanding in most state in the northern part of the country where many parents, especially fathers, resist immunisation.
These fathers are resisting the push for immunisation, believing it is within their rights to `safeguard` their children.
This line of thinking has made them to challenge immunisation, thereby unknowingly jeopardising the state of wellbeing of their children.
Over the years, there has been various level of vaccine hesitancy in the country because of various factors.
It received a boost with the unfornate trial of Pfizer vaccine in Kano State which led the death of many children.
After years of ligation, the families of the victims were compensated, though many still feel hurt that no amount of money could be enough for lost lives.
The hesitancy and rejection reached its peak with Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), which many resisted on the country that it contained anti-fertility substances.
It took concerted efforts by stakeholders, including medical experts, traditional and religious leaders to convince sceptics that the vaccines were safe.
In Badakoshi community of Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe state, some fathers have come together to oppose child vaccination.
Ibrahim Ahmed, a resident of Shongon Sarkin Yaki in Kwami LGA, said throughout his life, he never saw his parents vaccinated.
“Since I was born, from infancy to adulthood, no form of vaccination has ever been accepted in our household.
“My father was strongly against it (vaccination), and now that I am a father myself, this legacy must be sustained”, he barked with finality.
He said that no amount of pressure would make him change his stance, and nothing could convince him to accept vaccination.
According to Ahmed, his children are perfectly healthy in spite of not being administered with even a dose of any vaccine.
“Diseases like polio, measles and other childhood illnesses are acts of God and only God can provide protection”, he said.
Similarly, Malam Saman Shehu, a resident of Badakoshi, said in spite of his father being well-educated, he opposed child vaccinations due to personal and ideological reasons as against scientific conclusions.
Shehu has followed his father’s footsteps, firmly believing that vaccines pose more risks than benefits.
Interestingly, while Shehu is against childhood vaccinations, he holds a different view on malaria and typhoid vaccines.
He considers these diseases to be pose more immediate and severe threats, hence his decision to accept when available.
Another resident of Badakoshi, Malam Hashim Mohammed, also expressed strong opposition to child vaccination, stating that he was never vaccinated by his parents, and therefore intends to raise his children in the same manner.
These groups of men take pride in their decisions, resolutely believing they are safeguarding their children from harm.
The most concerning aspect is their unwillingness to have a rethink about their line of thinking on the matter.
However, some men in Arawa community of Gombe Local Government Area, who had rejected the vaccine initially, have shifted from scepticism to optimism. They are now willing to allow their children receive it.
Malam Sani Umar, a resident of BCJ Hayin Korin Misau community , had in the past, strongly opposed vaccination.
Not only that he rejected it, he took a step further by transferring his hatred for vaccines to health workers who administer them.
He said their parents had instilled phobia for vaccines in them, saying they were harmful to their health.
“Nothing in this world is truly free; if the government is handing out free vaccines, there must be something they are not telling us”, he reasoned.
He questioned why they must pay for treatments on malaria while vaccines for prevention of polio and other diseases are given out for free.
“If there is no hidden motive, why not make everything free, especially when lives are on the line?” he queried.
However, after being sceptical for years, Umar has started to reconsider his decision.
“Based on the explanation I just received about the importance of child vaccines for those under five, I am beginning to have a second thought”, he said.
“”I promise to take action. I will instruct my wife to allow health personnel attend to my children even when I am not around”, he pledged.
Similarly, Malam Ibrahim Adamu, a father of three from Yulungruza community, who had rejected the vaccines, is also having a re-think after a session of enlightenment by experts.
He said their parents had warned them about the Western agenda, claiming it was a plot to reduce the population in northern Nigeria and spread diseases.
“I never received any proper explanation about child vaccination, but after this brief explanation, I plan to talk with my siblings about the need for us to start accepting it”, he said.
Key factors responsible for resistance against immunisation in Northern Nigeria are tradition and long-held suspicion of insincerity by Western countries.
In an effort to remedy the situation, Government and Non-Governmental organisation had to intensify and broaden awareness campaigns, sometimes adding value to the exercise by including essential commodities as incentives.
Government bodies, NGOs, and international health organisations like the UNICEF, have deepened their efforts to dispel myths, raise awareness, and provide evidence-based information on the benefits of vaccines.
UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, in collaboration with the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, recently organised a workshop for journalists from Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe.
The workshop focused on the role of the media in the upcoming Integrated Vaccination Campaign, scheduled for October 2024.
During the training, Mr. George Eki, UNICEF’s Social Behaviour Change Specialist, urged journalists to support public awareness efforts by addressing misconceptions surrounding vaccines.
Dr. Mustapha Musa, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, emphasised the critical role vaccines play in stimulating immune responses to protect individuals from harmful microorganisms.
“Vaccines have drastically reduced polio cases, contributing to herd immunity.
“When 70 to 80 per cent of the population is immunised, the presence of the virus can be eliminated over time.
“Vaccines are being developed to fight a range of diseases, ensuring the protection of future generations’’, Musa told the participating newsmen.
In spite of these advancements, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant challenge, driven by widespread misconceptions and misinformation.
“To address these challenges, the Agency has worked through Demand Creation units and Social Behaviour Change programmes to educate the public on the importance of vaccines.
“Children who are fully immunised tend to live healthier lives than those who have never received vaccines.
“Even if exposed to the virus, vaccinated children generally experience milder symptoms compared to those who are unvaccinated,” he explained.
Musa said four Local Government Areas namely, Dukku, Kwami, Funakaye, and Yamaltu-Deba, have been classified as “zero dose” areas, where children have never received any form of immunisation.
He said in Gombe State, overall vaccination coverage stands at over 50%, adding that much more needs to be done to ensure that no child is left behind.
According to him, in Gombe, several factors contribute to the gaps in immunisation but the Agency is working tirelessly through programmes such as the outbreak response and supplementary immunisation to reach children who have been missed.
The recent increase in households jettisoning past tradition of scepticism over the positive impact of immunisation, is heart-warming.
This shift highlights the success of enlightenment campaigns, peer influence and improved healthcare policies in overcoming vaccine hesitancy.
To sustain the progress, continued engagement with communities, provision of accurate information and policy support are crucial.
Addressing the concerns that initially led to the suspicion and scepticism, as well as reinforcing campaign on the benefits of vaccination is key to the sustaining the success recorded. (NANFeatures)
26th September, 2024.
C.E.
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