UNICEF Trains Volunteer Community Mobilizers On EFPs

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), ‘A’ Field Office Enugu in partnership with National Orientation Agency (NOA), Cross River State and stakeholders in the State recently rounded off training of Volunteer Community Mobilizers on uptake of Ante Natal Care and other Essential Family Practices services in eight ANC burden Local Government Areas of Cross River State.
In a brief remark, the Communication Specialists, UNICEF Field Officer Enugu, Dr. Hilary Ozoh observed that there had been a tremendous increase in the number of Ante Natal Care sites that can also deliver prevention of HIV/AIDS Transmission from mother to child (PMTCT) services that this provision is yet to translate into improve utilization of the services on offer, adding that service uptake, especially by pregnant women has not always matched expectation.
Dr. Ozoh disclosed that messages and data from the field were actions needed to improve uptake of Ante Natal Care service across states including Cross River.
He remarked that social network manifest in communities as associations or groups; women, men, youths among others, who act as point of influence and could become active mobilizers of their communities for change; as well as promoting ANC attendance by pregnant women and follow up until they deliver at the health facility.
On mobilizing pregnant women in our communities for Ante Natal Care, conversation and talking with influential others linking to Health Facilities, the Communication Specialist, observed that as a Volunteer Community Mobilizer (VCM), they need some form of orientation and knowledge to be able to identify and engage pregnant women in their communities which involves the concept of mobilization in terms of moving people to action and completing the full course of action.
The Communication Specialists urged the VCMs to be fully involved in the programme in order to succeed and improve on the ANC burden experienced by the eight affected LGAs of Cross River State, noting that, Anambra and Benue States had a similar problem but with the introduction of VCM, there is an improvement in uptake.

By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar.