We also had the opportunity to meet with the Officer-in-Charge of Nnewi North Education Authority, along with the Area Education Officer. Recognizing the significance of their positions within the educational system, they wholeheartedly pledged their full support from the Education Board at the Local Government level, which serves as the primary conduit to schools. Their assurance bolsters our efforts in enhancing engagement, conducting sensitizations, mobilizing communities, and facilitating the uptake of the HPV Vaccine.
In furtherance of our campaign for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine sensitization, mobilization, and uptake, our team conducted an advocacy visit to the Executive Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area. The visit aimed to garner support, facilitate the smooth execution of our campaign activities within the community and ensure a coordinated effort towards the successful implementation of the HPV Vaccination among eligible girls.
Accompanied by key personnel including the Director of Primary Health Care, the Local Immunization Officer, the Social Mobilization Officer, and the Disease Surveillance Officer, our delegation was graciously received by the Executive Chairman. The meeting commenced with a formal introduction of our team and an overview of the objectives of our advocacy visit.
The Executive Chairman demonstrated a keen interest in our cause and attentively listened to our presentation. He acknowledged the significance of HPV awareness and its impact on public health within the local government area and the nation. Moreover, he assured us of his unwavering support and commitment to facilitating our campaign activities, ensuring seamless coordination, and maximizing outcomes.
This advocacy visit to the Executive Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area yielded positive outcomes, with an affirmation of support and collaboration towards our HPV sensitization and mobilization efforts. We look forward to leveraging this endorsement to further advance our mission and positively impact the health and well-being of the community.
Recognizing the critical need to increase HPV vaccination rates, we implemented a comprehensive strategy by training our Settlement Vaccine Champions to immerse themselves within their communities. Equipped with specialized knowledge and resources, these champions are tasked with spearheading initiatives to amplify awareness and understanding of the HPV vaccine.
Their roles encompass multifaceted engagement, including community, religious and school-based advocacy and outreaches, as well as facilitating one-on-one discussions with community members. By establishing a presence within the communities, they foster trust, address concerns, and debunk myths surrounding the vaccine.
The expected outcomes of this concerted effort are manifold. Firstly, we anticipate a significant increase in HPV vaccination uptake among the settlement population. Secondly, by fostering a culture of health literacy and proactive healthcare-seeking behaviors, we aim to reduce the prevalence of HPV-related diseases such as cervical cancer. Ultimately, our goal is to create a lasting impact on public health outcomes by empowering communities with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves against HPV infections.
More teams of Settlement Vaccine Champions will be trained to ensure spread across the different wards within the State.
Today, we successfully sensitized 52 boys and 150 girls in Secondary School as well as 25 boys and 37 girls in upper primary school about the HPV, the significance of the HPV vaccine, and the risks associated with cervical cancer. These enthusiastic youngsters were not only eager to learn but also actively engaged in discussions, asking insightful questions and showing genuine interest in safeguarding their health. As they absorbed the information, their enthusiasm grew, and they left equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their own health and well-being, empowered to spread awareness within their communities, and willingness to take the HPV Vaccine.
Unmet needs for support relate to daily requirements for independent functioning among the elderly but which are unavailable, consequent upon declining informal support and challenges of accessing formal ones. This study explored unmet needs for support, including finance, assistive device, food and healthcare, among older persons with disability in Enugu State Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling and a triangulation of research methods, a total of 1030 older persons were selected for the study. Seven in every ten older persons in the sample (71.0%) had an unmet need. Of all the support received, financial support (79.8%) was the most inadequate. The predominant assistive device was the walking stick (84.9%). Only about four (38.0%) out of ten had three square meals with no recourse to a balanced diet. Of all the unmet felt needs, healthcare/medication (60.2%) was the most predominant followed by financial support. Their physical environment was neither disability-supportive nor ageing-friendly. We conclude that the high percentage of unmet needs among older persons in Enugu State Nigeria is consequent upon the absence of formal social welfare policies and programmes for the elderly. Unfortunately, the elderly would continue to have unmet needs given the declining safety nets traditionally provided by family members vis-à-vis the increasing economic hardship in the society. It is therefore recommended that governments at all levels should formulate and implement social welfare programmes to bridge the needs gap among senior citizens who had spent their vibrant years serving the government and society.
