The Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State has inaugurated an Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) Technical Working Group (TWG) to champion the ongoing Measles and Rubella vaccination drive across communities in the council area.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Tuesday, brought together key stakeholders in the health sector, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations, and development partners, all working toward improving routine immunisation coverage and protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Primary Health Care, Yenagoa LGA, Mr. John Kosikimi, described the inauguration of the ACSM TWG as a strategic move to strengthen community engagement, public awareness, and acceptance of the Measles and Rubella vaccines. He commended community leaders for their continuous support of public health initiatives and appealed for sustained collaboration to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign.
“The success of the Measles and Rubella vaccination drive depends largely on community ownership and trust,” Kosikimi said. “We appreciate the commitment of our traditional rulers, youth leaders, women groups, and civil society partners, and we urge them to intensify mobilisation efforts so that every eligible child is reached.”
He further noted that misinformation, myths, and vaccine hesitancy remain key challenges in some communities, stressing that the ACSM TWG would play a critical role in countering false narratives, promoting accurate health information, and encouraging positive health-seeking behaviour at the grassroots level.
Among the organisations inaugurated into the Technical Working Group was Education as a Vaccine (ENWAF), alongside other non-governmental and community-based organisations. These groups are expected to support advocacy, interpersonal communication, and community sensitisation activities before and during the vaccination exercise.
The Yenagoa LGA Health Promotion Officer, Mr. Zige Amapamo, was named head of the ACSM TWG. In his acceptance remarks, Amapamo pledged to provide inclusive and effective leadership, assuring stakeholders that the group would work closely with communities to address concerns and boost vaccine confidence.
He called on TWG members to remain proactive, committed, and visible in their various communities, emphasizing that protecting children against measles and rubella is a shared responsibility.
The inauguration of the ACSM TWG marks a renewed commitment by the Yenagoa LGA to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of children through effective and inclusive vaccination programmes.
