NGO highlights importance of women’s voices in immunisation, health policies

By Abujah Racheal

The Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) has emphasised women’s critical role in immunisation and health policy in Nigeria in celebration of 2025 International Women’s Day.

Mrs Chika Offor, the Chief Executive Officer of VNDC, laid the emphasis in Abuja at a symposium organised by the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Offor said that there was a link between women empowerment, maternal and child health, and vaccine uptake.

According to her, economically and socially-empowered women are more likely to ensure that their children receive life-saving vaccination.

Offor called for increased female participation in health decision-making.

“Women are natural caregivers and community mobilisers. Their voices are powerful in driving immunisation uptake and influencing policies.

“If we strengthen their leadership in this space, we can achieve higher vaccine coverage and better health outcomes,” she said.

She urged women to be proactive in advocating improved immunisation policies, engaging policymakers and leveraging mentorship programmes to drive vaccine awareness at the community level.

To support this effort, Offor announced a six-month mentorship programme for aspiring female leaders interested in health advocacy.

She said that the initiative aimed to equip women with the skills needed to influence public health policies and grassroots immunisation efforts.

“Through this mentorship programme, we want to build a network of women who can drive conversations on vaccine access, policy reforms and community health solutions,” she said.

She said that VNDC planned to expand its mentorship and advocacy programmes in 2025, working closely with government agencies, community leaders and civil society groups to ensure that women’s perspectives would shape Nigeria’s immunisation policies.

“We need to move from rhetoric to action. Investing in women’s leadership in health policy isn’t just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do for Nigeria’s future,” she said .

Thd National President of NCWS, Princess Edna Azura, decried what she described as persistent gaps in implementation of national and international policies and legal frameworks to ensure equality and protect the rights of women.

Azura commended VNDC’s initiatives, emphasising that women’s involvement in health policy was crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

She said that while progress had been made in child immunisation, gaps remained in rural and underserved communities, where mothers’ voices could significantly impact vaccine acceptance.

“When women at the grassroots are empowered with knowledge and leadership roles, they become champions for immunisation and health equity,” she said.

A mother of three in the Federal Capital Territory and beneficiary of VNDC’s past advocacy efforts, Mrs Aisha Bello, said: “Before I joined the VNDC awareness programme, I was hesitant about vaccines.

“However, after learning from other women in my community, I made sure all my children got their routine immunisations. Now, I encourage other mothers to do the same.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the symposium reinforced the message that women are not just beneficiaries of health policies but must be active participants in shaping them.

As Nigeria strives to improve immunisation coverage and strengthen its healthcare system, harnessing women’s voices in policy formulation remains essential for sustainable progress.

NAN reports that International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8.

The 2025 edition has the theme: “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment”. (NAN