Kano- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has organised a meeting of Social Behaviour Change SBC state facilitators in Nigeria.
Mr Kshitij Joshi, Chief Social Behaviour Change (SBC) UNICEF, Nigeria, disclosed that the SBC state facilitators network was established in 2012.
He said that the network was engaged in transforming Nigeria in terms of immunization, polio eradication, zero-dose children, ending open defecation, stunting, out-of-school children, exclusive breastfeeding birth and registration.
“Also, early marriage, gender and sexual based violence seeking health services, caregiving, stigma, 1000 days of life, early stimulation, participating supporting and advocacy.
“We also aim to identify areas where our organizations can engage with communities, especially women and children, to amplify their voices and contribute to our mandates,” Joshi said.
Joshi noted that the SBC network played a vital role in eradicating the circulated wide polio virus in the country.
Earlier, UNICEF Champion, Ali Nuhu, stressed need for parents to take their children for routine immunization to avoid complications.
Nuhu, is also the Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) urged parents to take their children for routine immunization before anything comes up.
He said that UNICEF was doing a good job of educating the public about the importance of immunization.
“As a partner, I contributed my quota through skits, Public Service Announcements, and traditional and social media, among others.
“To communicate with the public and provide information, sometimes we go to the field where we interact with people, I believe it is one of the best ways to give to the society.
“Government and relevant stakeholders have a vital role to play in reducing maternal and child mortality by providing fully equipped and functional primary healthcare centers and taking routine anti-natal drugs by pregnant women.
“All hands must be on deck to put through a call about how mothers should go for ANC and take their routine drugs, the health workers must also be fully on the ground to render services,” he added.
According to him, delivery fees are a major hindrance to hospital delivery as many families cannot afford the rather give birth at home.
Some of the facilitators who spoke to our correspondent commended UNICEF for organizing the two-day event tagged: Meeting with SBC Facilitators.
They said that social norms were part of human behavior in society and they would seek to change these norms to promote positive behaviors.
They also pledged to promote positive behaviors and social norms to improve the well-being of children and families.