Bringing health awareness and women’s empowerment directly to Abuja markets through vaccine education and rights advocacy.
By Joy Onu
Efforts to expand health awareness and promote the rights of women and girls in the Federal Capital Territory received a boost as the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter, announced plans to collaborate with the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) on a marketplace advocacy initiative aimed at engaging women directly in their daily business environments.
Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT, Bassey Ita Ikpang, disclosed the plan during a courtesy visit by the association to the Executive Director of VNDC, Chika Offor, in Abuja. She explained that the programme is designed to reach women in marketplaces with information on their social, economic and democratic rights while also integrating awareness on critical health issues, including vaccine education and public health practices.
Ikpang noted that the initiative aligns with NAWOJ’s commitment to amplifying the voices of women and using media advocacy to address challenges affecting women and children. She added that the marketplace campaign would enable the association to engage women in their everyday environment while tackling misinformation surrounding vaccine uptake and other health-related matters.
Responding, Offor welcomed the proposed collaboration and pledged VNDC’s support for the advocacy effort, emphasising the importance of educating women on health matters that affect their families and communities. She described the marketplace approach as innovative and encouraged women to embrace creative ideas that promote knowledge, empowerment and healthier societies.
