UNICEF Champions Climate Resilience and HPV Immunization in Nigeria: Media Dialogue Highlights Urgency and Action

It was a gathering of selected On-Air Personalities from Media houses in South East, South South and North Central Geo political zones in the Country as UNICEF organises a Multi Zonal Media Dialogue on Climate resilience and integration of Human Papillomavirus( HPV) with Immunization Services in Nigeria at Hotel Fidelma Enugu.

 

In her welcome remarks at the workshop with the theme, World Children’s Day 2023: Climate Resilience and Action by Duty Bearers, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe stated that over the years communicating Children’s rights remains a huge challenge with a broad range of abuses against children and neglect emanating from ignorance of what constitutes child’s right.

Media therefore has a critical role to play in creating awareness among the public and key actors for children as media according to her remains unicef’s very close ally in ensuring wider information spread on issues of child rights.

 

On the issue of changing climate she stated that with human activities being the primary factor in the acceleration of climate which has changed over the past century, there is need to increase its mitigation as the scientific evidence is available and quite overwhelming.

 

She regretted that regardless of how successful humans have been at limiting the root causes of our warming planet society is facing significant impacts from more frequent and severe weather ocean warming and acidification extended periods of drought and extreme temperatures and other adverse effects of climate change

 

Mrs Chiluwe hinted that as part of activities marking the 2023 world children’s day through the U- report project, UNICEF is partnering with schools on tree planting to create a more conducive climate

 

She noted that the media dialogue provides ample opportunity to partner with the OAP through their Media stations especially in increasing awareness and chances of slowing down the worsening effects of the changing climate.

 

The Chief QASH Manager, UNICEF Nigeria,Jean Beavan’s, paper on world Children’s Day 2023: Report on Climate Resilience was presented virtually by Jolly Ann Maulit.

 

In his presentation on Human Papillomavirus ( HPV) Campaign in Nigeria, Impact and Progress on Adolescent Girls, the Consultant Community Medicine, Enugu State University Teaching Hodpitsl, Parkland, Enugu, Dr Chikezie Obasi said about 1.5 million HPV Cases occur every year in Nigeria and about eight thousand deaths occur from it. He regretted that HPV infection has no cure and said there has been a massive sensitization in ! 16 states of the need for girl child between 9 to 14 years to be immunized with HPV Vaccine to avoid it’s devastating effect at later years.

 

Speaking on the role of UNICEF on the HPV drive, the Health Specialist UNICEF, Nigeria, Dr Olusoji Akinleye said UNICEF has not only played a major role in advocacy, training, capacity building and social mobilization for HPV rolleout, they have contributed in making vaccine available as well as provide basic technical equipment including deep freezers, generators and disel to power it to ensure safe guarding of the vaccines.

 

The Communication Officer, UNICEF, Enugu field Officer, Dr Ijeoma Onuoha- Ogwe enlisted the objective and expected output of the the program and called on OAPs to create programmes that will revolve round climate resilience in their stations.

 

Submitting the assurance of UNIZIK FM for increased advocacy and sensitization of climate resilience and HPV awareness through programmes and news, the Station Manager, UNIZIK FM, Mrs Ify Obi who is one of the participants promised maximum cooperation from the Station.

 

Rpt/ Ify