Felicia O. Aibinuomo

Community Participation for Immunization Programme Sustainability: Traditional Leadership Involvement for Ownership Creation Felicia O. Aibinuomo

Immunization, one of the most cost-effective methods of protecting individuals within communities, serves as leverage of the gap between the rich and the poor. Strengthening the link between Community and health services can only be achieved through the involvement and effective empowerment of the Community in the management of the services. Access to Health services should not be a barrier even to those living in difficult to reach terrain; Outreach or mobile services made available to reach mother and child reduces mortality and morbidity rates. Community rulership has key roles to play in ensuring effective vaccination coverage monitored by the Community Resource persons who could be members of the Ward Development Committee. Identified local associations and organizations links up with the committees at respective levels-National, State and Local Government (District) to participate in local resource mobilization, plan and implement activities involved in Reaching Every Ward with potent vaccines, viz social mapping, mobilization, and defaulter tracking. A Community-friendly health service provider is paramount to utilization and patronage.