Full vaccination for vulnerable kids in Selagi community
Preamble
It was a sunny day in Selagi and of course another event that threw rays of hope upon the rural poor community, as health workers worked in great numbers to get the little kids vaccinated
Issues of health and it’s attending challenges has been the lot of this rural community. With the initiative of a hospital to cater for their medical needs , more community health activities are beginning to come in on daily basis.
Today we were gracious with some health workers, in their numbers they came and on this day , it was for the kids .
At my invitation they came in to sensitize and also carry out vaccination against opportunistic ailments that would ordinarily affect the kids.
My Experience
It was quite a funny experience that when the workers arrived and child bearing mothers were called to bring forth their kids, a rumor went round that it was a conspiracy to reduce the teaming population of the village, as such , there was a hard resistance.
Most of them outrightly refused that their kids shouldn’t be vaccinated, it took more than three hours of sensitization on the need for this all important exercise.
I told them of the advantages that the vaccines would bring to the kids . I elaborated on the fact that this vaccine will help Fight the many illnesses around . After a long talk , most of them saw the need and keyed into the project .
Today we are so glad that the kids were fully vaccinated . I told them that statistics have it that with vaccination we could help prevent about 3.5-5 million death rate every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles.
I am glad that we were able to achieve this . Many thanks to the healthcare workers and volunteers. I have arranged with them that they will come periodically.
Conclusion
The African man is still lacking behind on so many issues , not insinuating any insults but we must consciously root out the cruel mentality and barbaric thinking that has kept us underdeveloped . It is expected that in the 21st century, issues of vaccinations shouldn’t form headlines at all, but sadly it is in my community.
I am hopeful that with this sensitization that going forward, things will really work better