The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board (OYOPHCB) and Femben Football Academy, organised a special football tournament in Iseyin on Thursday, combining sports entertainment with health advocacy to engage fathers in their children’s healthcare decisions.
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The innovative strategy deployed by the health authorities in Oyo used football to address a critical gap in childhood immunisation programmes: the absence of paternal consent that frequently prevents mothers from vaccinating their children.
The initiative, tagged “Kick Zero Dose and Polio Away, One Goal at a Time,” culminated in a final match and advocacy visit to the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola, and traditional council members, highlighting the crucial role of traditional institutions in promoting public health campaigns.
Social and Behaviour Change Specialist from UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, explained that maternal rejection of immunisation services often stems from a lack of paternal approval. “Most times, when we have rejections to immunisation, mothers would tell us that the fathers have not given consent,” she revealed, identifying this as a significant barrier to achieving vaccination targets.
The specialist noted that reaching children requires engaging their parents, particularly fathers who serve as household decision-makers. “One of the gaps we have identified in the state is that most times, women are saddled with the responsibility of taking their children for vaccination, but if we don’t get the consent of fathers, we may not be able to get enough children immunised,” Akinola-Akinwole stated.
Executive Secretary of OYOPHCB, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, emphasised the importance of male participation, noting that fathers’ influence as family heads could significantly expand immunisation coverage across communities in Oyo State and Nigeria generally. He stressed that numerous diseases contributing to child mortality are preventable through vaccines delivered via immunisation programmes.
The advocacy visit to traditional leaders is a strategic approach to health promotion, recognising these custodians of social norms as essential partners in advancing routine immunisation. Their endorsement carries significant weight in community acceptance of health interventions.
Dr Olatunji announced that OYOPHCB would commence an integrated Measles-Rubella vaccination exercise from October 4 to 14, with two additional days for mop-up activities. The campaign targets over three million children aged nine months to 14 years and is specifically designed to reach those who have never received the Rubella vaccine and bridge existing immunity gaps.
Following the two-day mop-up exercise, Measles-Rubella vaccination will become part of routine immunisation services alongside other antigens, ensuring sustained protection for children in the state.
The Executive Secretary commended Oba Oyebola for supporting OYOPHCB and UNICEF programmes in Iseyin, particularly highlighting the monarch’s personal initiative to pay health insurance subscriptions for indigenes, which has increased healthcare facility utilisation among community members.
Coach Femi Olatunji, Head Coach of Femben Sports Academy and tournament consultant, explained the rationale behind using football as a mobilisation tool. “The football field is one of the places where we can see 500 to 1,000 men gathered together. This tournament provides access to educate men in large numbers to be actively involved in children’s immunisation programmes,” he noted.
He praised UNICEF for deploying sports as an innovative mechanism to communicate immunisation messages to men, educating them on the importance of supporting their wives in taking their children for vaccination.
Oba Oyebola commended the state government for renovating primary healthcare centres in Iseyin and acknowledged UNICEF’s efforts in championing community wellbeing.
The tournament, which served as the vehicle for this health advocacy, concluded with Iseyin United defeating New Starlet FC from Ibadan 1-0 at the Iseyin Township Stadium, providing entertainment while delivering critical health messages to hundreds of male spectators.
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