Immunisation Awareness Still Very Low – Medical Doctor

The Head of the Department of Paediatrics, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Adeola Animashaun, has said that awareness on immunisation is still very low in the country.

Animashaun, who spoke with newsmen yesterday, in Lagos, said that more awareness programmes were needed on the subject.

“If you ask an average mother the importance of immunisation, she may not know what it means.

“Some mothers see it as a waste of time, while some think it can affect the child and can give the child fever,” she said.

The doctor urged constant education on the relevance of immunisation, saying that it could change the attitude of the people toward it.

Animashaun also called for a forum where people would express their opinions, noting that this could help health officers to identify the issues and find ways to encourage more mothers to immunise their children.

“The best way can be through community health officers, who reach out to mothers in smaller communities,” The paediatrician said.

She regretted that many children had yet to receive immunisation because their parents did not consider it necessary.

“These parents do not know the importance and that is why today Tetanus is still high in developing countries.

“Most mothers give excuses, such as no health facilities nearby, no transportation fares and no money to vaccinate themselves and their children,” Animashaun said.

She said that myths and the superstitious beliefs of some people also resulted in poor attitudes to immunisation, noting that one had to get closer to them to be able to debunk the myths.

Animashaun said that jingles on radio and television would help to change the attitude of the people.

The doctor also said that the educational level, especially of the girl child, was low and needed improvement.

“Studies have shown that when you have an educated mother, even when the child is sick, the prognosis is better than when you have an uneducated mother.

“Efforts should be made in terms of improving education,” she said.

Animashaun said that the government should also find ways of motivating people to bring their children for immunisation by giving incentives.

“Part of the requirement for admission into schools should also be for the mother to provide the immunisation card of the child.

“It should be enforced and this would encourage them to bring their children out for immunisation,” she said.