UNICEF urges media, stakeholders to counter vaccine misinformation

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The United Nations Children’s Fund has urged media organisations and other critical stakeholders to take the lead in health education and community enlightenment, particularly in rural areas, to counter rising misinformation surrounding polio vaccination and other public health interventions.

UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr Emmanuel Alebiosu, made the call on Tuesday during a one-day media dialogue titled “Reporting Polio: Covering Gaps and Milestones,” held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Alebiosu described the conventional media as a credible and reliable platform essential for countering misinformation and disinformation in an era where false narratives spread rapidly through social media.

He stressed that the media must continue to mobilise communities not only by promoting vaccination uptake but also by confronting stereotypes and rumours that undermine health campaigns.

“The role of the media in achieving universal coverage and addressing health gaps cannot be overemphasised.

“But we must acknowledge that it is also a platform that poses a challenge due to the ease of spreading misinformation, disinformation and rumours, especially with the advent of social media,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nusirat Elelu, appealed to journalists to intensify the dissemination of accurate and timely information to complement government efforts in improving health outcomes.

Elelu, represented by Micheal Oguntoye, explained that the state’s integrated health campaigns, earlier scheduled to commence on November 29, 2025, will feature two components: Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week and HPV vaccination.

According to her, the campaigns aim to deliver “a package of high-impact, low-cost interventions” to reduce morbidity and mortality among women and children.

Services to be offered include routine immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, nutrition screening, and growth monitoring for children under five.

She added that about 200,000 pregnant women are expected to access antenatal services designed to improve maternal wellbeing.

She said the MNCH Week will run alongside the HPV vaccination drive targeting nine-year-old girls who missed the initial national rollout, adding that the HPV vaccine remains one of the most effective tools in preventing cervical cancer, urging parents and caregivers to ensure eligible girls are vaccinated.

A representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Gwomson Dauda, commended state actors, development partners and health workers for their commitment during the October Measles-Rubella campaign, urging them to build on the lessons learnt to ensure wider coverage and improved outcomes in subsequent exercises.

According to the World Health Organisation, maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

The major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality include haemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour.

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