The Use of African Communication System in Polio Eradication Campaign
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
Having in mind the problem of this research work, the objectives is therefore, set forward. This research work will be looking at polio eradication campaign through our communication system which is the African means. With the following objectives or goals.
- Enlighten the importance of education campaign on polio disease within our community.
- Access the means through with polio can be eradicated from our community through one of the African communication system.
- Create awareness of the disease polio in the peoples mind and its preventive measures.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN THE POLIO ERADICATION INITIATIVE (PEI)
Like all immunization programs, supply and demand factors have determined the evolution of the PEI. Supply-side factors include logistics, transportation, personnel, money, and general organization to ensure that vaccines are available at health posts and booths or delivered during house-to-house campaigns. Demand requires that caretakers know, request and use vaccination services, because they believe either it is a service given to them or it is a right they have as members of a community/country. Both supply and demand are needed for an immunization program to function successfully. If supply-side factors falter but demand is successful, caretakers and children show up at vaccination booths (or wait at home for vaccinators) but vaccines are not available. If supply works but demand is limited, vaccines may be available, but only a percentage of the population is immunized. Recent studies have concluded that the lack of resources in communication efforts has had deleterious effects on immunization rates in developing countries because supply-sided actions alone cannot promote and sustain a culture of immunization that affect demand for services. The PEI has had a three-pronged communication scheme: advocacy, social mobilization, and information, education and communication activities. Communication programs in support of the PEI were expected to make contributions to both supply and demand factors by:
- Carrying out advocacy among decision makers at different levels (global, regional, national, state, and local)
- Mobilizing communities, leaders, and organizations to participate in vaccination days.
- Informing caretakers about vaccination dates and places to ensure compliance.
Each communication activity has distinctive goals. Advocacy aims to obtain support from policy makers by participating in activities, providing financial support, and persuading others to rally behind the PEI. SM encourages communities to participate in vaccination activities in different capacities (e.g. mobilizers, vaccinators, transportation support, information providers). IEC targets caretakers with a variety of messages to ensure that their children will receive OPV at facilities or outreach session or at home. All strategies combined should contribute to a common goal: increase and maintain vaccination rates, both for supplementary and routine immunization. Ideally, all three communication activities should work in synergy towards a common goal, and each activity should have clear behavioral goals, audiences, and messages.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought the use of African communication system in polio eradication campaign
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the use of African communication system in polio eradication campaign. 200 staff of selected health centers in Gboko local government of Benue state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the use of African communication system in polio eradication campaign. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of African communication system in polio eradication campaign
Summary
This study was on the use of African communication system in polio eradication campaign. Four objectives were raised which include: Enlighten the importance of education campaign on polio disease within our community, access the means through with polio can be eradicated from our community through one of the African communication system, create awareness of the disease polio in the peoples mind and its preventive measures. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected health centers in Gboko local government of Benue state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made of head of nurses, nurses, senior staff and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Given the enormous difficulties for PE in Nigeria, progress in all communication programs is necessary. It is clear that, besides communication solutions, the program needs important changes in management, logistics, and surveillance. If they are not addressed, it is difficult to envision a fast and substantial turnaround. Because one the main problems is access, improving advocacy efforts at all levels to maximize continuous access is crucial. Advocacy should not consist of one-shot actions or random action devoid of a master plan that indicates courses of actions and tracks progress. Continuous, sustainable advocacy at the local level, with both leaders and communities, is needed. Advocacy should follow a detailed plan of responsibilities and goals among partners in local SMCCs. It should be based on detailed, state-by state diagnoses of the situation. PP should increase activities to mobilize support from community leaders and local opinion makers.
Recommendation
- Provision of adequate funds at all levels is needed to plan, conduct, monitor, and evaluate advocacy, social mobilization and communication activities.
- Motivation of Social Mobilization Committee members is needed, especially at lower levels, through secure salaries or stipends/per diems to support their work and transport costs and sustain year-round activities of the committees.
- Integration of the activities of the SMCs already existing in some states and sponsored by different partner agencies for different programmes. These activities, committees and partners need to be harmonized to support social mobilization/IEC for routine and supplemental immunization and prevent parallel or conflicting systems.
REFERENCES
- World Health Organization. Progress towards global eradication of poliomyelitis, 2002. Weekly Epidemiological Record, 2003, 78:138–144. 2.
- Report of the United Nations Secretary-General. Road map towards the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. New York, NY, United Nations, 2001 (United Nations General Assembly document A/56/326). 3.
- Global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1988 (World Health Assembly resolution WHA41.28). 4.
- de Quadros CA et al. Eradication of poliomyelitis: progress in the Americas. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 1991, 10:222–229. 5.
- Yaoundé Declaration on Polio Eradication in Africa. Yaoundé, Cameroon, Organization of African Unity, 1996 (Assembly of Heads of States and Government resolution AHG/Decl.1 (XXXII)). 6.
