Says initiative have led to positive behavioural change
By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
In Bauchi State, communities are praising a UNICEF-led initiative focused on engaging fathers in promoting positive health-seeking behaviors, particularly regarding childhood immunization.
The Fathers for Good Health Support initiative seeks to leverage fathers’ influence within their communities to encourage wider acceptance and uptake of vaccines and other essential healthcare services.
To access the impact of the initiative in Bauchi communities and to mark the commemoration of fathers Day which was celebrated globally,UNICEF Bauchi Field Office led a team of journalists on a field visit to Kukadi/Gundari ward in in Misau local government area of the state where the fathers have performed excellently well in promoting healthcare delivery system, particularly maternal and child health.
The team of journalists interacted with members of the fathers for good health group, including a female supporter of the group, members of the communities who have been impacted their activities, Council Chairman of the local government and UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist in order to ascertain the impact of the activities of the initiative as well as the challenges.
Nura Aliyu, a father of two and a member of the Fathers for Good Health Support Group in Misau LGA shared about how things were before the initiative began.He said that before the coming of the initiative, there was a lot of resistance to polio immunization, low attendance of antenatal sessions pregnant women and home deliveries which sometimes results to health complications.
“Thanks to the Fathers for Good health Initiative, people now recognize the importance of going to the hospital, particularly pregnant women, even our malnourished children have recovered.Before now, there was a lot of resistance to immunization, most households were against immunizing their Newborns and many of the pregnant women were not not educated on attending antenatal and giving birth in a health facility.All these issues have changed and people are now exhibiting positive health attitudes” he said
Ibrahim Mohammed and Hajiya Aisha Yusuf, a supporter of the group said that members of the group usually sensitize fathers in the communities on the importance of improving the health of their families allowing their children to be immunized, ensuring that pregnant women attend antenatal and giving birth at the facilities, adding that their efforts have yielded positive results.
Turaki Goje, a resident of Gundari community in Misau LGA and a father of 20 children, said that he had some misconceptions about polio Immunization which he has never allowed any health worker to come close to his house.
” Before now, I was someone in my community who resisted immunization for my household and I frustrated any attempt health workers to immunize my children.Now, I have a different mindset with the coming of this Fathers for Good Health Support Group because I can now see the good work they are doing in improving the health of the communities” he said
An official of the local government said that the local government has 10 members of Fathers for Good Health Support group in each of the 16 wards of the LGA, making a total of 160 members of the group, adding that the activities of the group has transformed the health of members of the communities in the LGA, leading to positive behavioural change.