In a coordinated effort to improve public health outcomes and close existing immunisation gaps, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ondo State has partnered with the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA) to launch a week-long mass vaccination campaign. The exercise is scheduled to run from May 3 to May 10, 2025, across various communities in the state.
The partnership was solidified during an advocacy visit by a delegation from the OSPHCDA to the NOA office in Akure. Leading the visiting team was the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Adegoke Akanbiemu, who engaged in strategic discussions with the Ondo State Director of NOA, Mr. James Adekunle, on how best to drive the campaign to achieve maximum coverage and impact.
Speaking during the visit, Adekunle reaffirmed NOA’s unwavering commitment to supporting government-led health interventions, particularly those aimed at safeguarding maternal and child health. He emphasised that the agency would leverage its grassroots communication network to raise awareness about the upcoming immunisation drive, ensuring that residents are well-informed and actively participate. He further commended the Federal Government for prioritising health care delivery through such initiatives, noting that timely and widespread public enlightenment is essential to the campaign’s success.
In his remarks, Dr. Akanbiemu lauded the NOA’s role as a key mobiliser of the populace, stating that the collaboration with the agency was crucial to achieving the vaccination targets. Represented by the Director of Disease Control, Dr. Victor Adefesoye, the OSPHCDA highlighted that the mass immunisation would focus on children aged 0 to 15 months, as well as nine-year-old girls, who will be vaccinated against various preventable diseases, in line with national health guidelines.
Dr. Adefesoye noted that NOA’s extensive reach and capacity to engage communities at the grassroots level would be instrumental in encouraging participation and dispelling misinformation surrounding vaccinations. He described the partnership as a timely and strategic intervention to improve vaccine uptake and protect vulnerable populations.
Both agencies have pledged to work closely in the days leading up to and during the campaign to ensure effective delivery of vaccines and comprehensive public sensitisation. The collaborative initiative is expected to significantly boost immunisation coverage in Ondo State, contributing to broader efforts to reduce child mortality and strengthen the health system at the community level.
