Child immunization: Why UNICEF is partnering influential people – Madhok

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

The Chief of Communications, UNICEF Nigeria, Rajat Madhok has disclosed that the Fund is partnering influential people in the society due to the respect they command across boundaries.

Rajat Madhok who stated this while speaking to newsmen at the Bauchi UNICEF office on Tuesday, said: “UNICEF partners with influential people, people who have a voice, who have respect in the community, who’s say matters”.

Madhok further pointed out that UNICEF’s expectations on such influential people is for them to go round the communities and talk to the people on the need for them to embrace child immunization with all seriousness.

“We want them to talk to communities, we want them to talk to governments, we want them to talk to people in power and convince them that it is important for us to be investing in children”, he explained.

Commenting on Nigerian Actress, Kate Henshaw who was in Bauchi on a field trip to monitor the ongoing immunization of children, said she has all the attributes of being an influential person.

“She’s influential, she got the voice and more importantly she has a heart in the right place and so, these are champions that we worked with around world, in Nigeria, beside Kate, we are partnering with Nollywood Celebrities like, Ali Nuhu among others”, Rajat Madhok said.

He said: “Globally as well, we have a lot of celebrities who joined hands with us to raise the conversation around about immunization, education of children, their birth registration and that is why Kate is here, she is here because we are in the middle of the immunization”.

The Chief of Communications said Henshaw was able to meet with young mothers who have availed their children for vaccination.

While addressing the press, the Actress, Kate Henshaw described the role of media in advocacy for matters relating to children as something that cannot be overemphasized.

According to her, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state had while receiving her at the government house on a courtesy visit, identified with all her submissions regarding child nutrition fund, immunization, among others.

Henshaw who said the field trip she embarked upon in Bauchi enabled her to meet with mothers and other stakeholders, commended Bauchi state for the massive compliance to routine immunization.

“I was in Yelwa community of Bauchi metropolis where I met several women who shared their experiences with me regarding immunization and was able to realized that before we got there almost all the children have received the vaccine”, she said.

“I commended the field workers, the women, the community leaders, health workers, Mama2Mama for their roles in ensuring healthy children. I also thank UNICEF for giving me this opportunity to have an overview insight into how this work is done, it’s not easy, it has to come from a place of love, a place of care and a place of advancement for people to have a chance of life”, Henshaw disclosed.