The Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development has organised an interface session between religious leaders, health experts and other stakeholders towards bridging the gap in the war against polio disease in Kano State.
The event held in collaboration between the Sultan Foundation and Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board fostered collaborative discussions and to equip the religious leaders with accurate information to dispel myths surrounding vaccines.
Speaking at the event held, Saturday, at Ni’ima Guest Palace, Kano, the Director General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Nasir Mahmoud praised the foundation’s efforts in complementing government initiatives.
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The DG Represented by the Incident Manager, Kano Emergency Operation Center Dr. Abdullahi Sa’ad Ahmad reaffirmed the government’s commitment on partnering with organizations to safeguard citizens’ health, leveraging resources and expertise to enhance primary healthcare and beyond.
In his remark, the Kano State Coordinator of the Foundation, Dr. Ahmad Ado Abdullahi said, the conference was convened to sensitize religious leaders on routine immunization, focusing on eradicating polio and other preventable diseases among vulnerable children under five and the broader society.
The Foundation’s Coordinator in Kano Dr. Ado emphasized the commitment of the Foundation to promoting public health and social development activities through strategic partnerships.
Dr. Ado also underscored the foundation’s ongoing activities, including community outreach and capacity-building programs.
During the 1-day sensitisation workshop, the converged Health experts, Academics, Islamic and Christianity scholars shared varied insights from diverse perspectives, contributing to the exercise’s success.
However, the religious leaders who spoke before the gathering, acknowledged their critical role in promoting vaccine acceptance and pledged support for the immunization drive.
In their goodwill messages, experts and health partners representing UNICEF, WHO, ECCOH at the workshop stressed the importance of addressing misconceptions and building trust within communities to boost vaccination rates.
Dr. Bala Muhammad of Bayero University, Kano, delivered a pivotal presentation on countering misinformation and disinformation for efficient social mobilization and improving vaccine uptake.
Newskeeper reports that, the engagement concluded with a renewed commitment to collective action against preventable diseases and leveraging religious leaders’ influence to promote public health.