By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) at the weekend, enumerated the women’s critical role in immunization and health policy in Nigeria. as part Mrs Chika Offor, CEO of VNDC,stated this in Abuja, at a symposium in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2025, organized by National Council for Women Societies (NCWS).

She underscored the link between women’s empowerment, maternal and child health, and vaccine uptake. Offor stressed that economically and socially empowered women were more likely to ensure their children receive life-saving vaccinations and called for increased female participation in health policy decision-making.“Women are natural caregivers and community mobilizers. Their voices are powerful in driving immunization uptake and influencing policy.“If we strengthen their leadership in this space, we can achieve higher vaccine coverage and better health outcomes,” she said.She urged women to take proactive roles in advocating for improved immunization policies, engaging policymakers, and leveraging mentorship programs to drive vaccine awareness at the community level.To support this effort, Offor announced a six-month mentorship programme for an aspiring female leader interested in health advocacy and non-profit leadership. She said that the initiative aimed to equip women with the skills needed to influence public health policies and grassroots immunization efforts.“Through this mentorship program, we want to build a network of women who can drive conversations on vaccine access, policy reforms, and community health solutions,” she added.She said that VNDC plans to expand its mentorship and advocacy programmes in 2025, working closely with government agencies, community leaders, and civil society groups to ensure women’s perspectives shape Nigeria’s immunization policies“We need to move from rhetoric to action. Investing in women’s leadership in health policy isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do for Nigeria’s future,” She said.Also speaking at the event, the National President, of NCWS, Princess Edna Azura decried what she described as persistent gaps in the implementation of national and international policies and legal frameworks to ensure equality and protect the rights of women in Nigeria.Azura commended VNDC’s initiative, emphasising that women’s involvement in health policy is crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).She noted that while progress has been made in immunization, gaps remain in rural and underserved communities, where mothers’ voices can significantly impact vaccine acceptance.“When women at the grassroots level are empowered with knowledge and leadership roles, they become champions for immunization and health equity,” she stated.A beneficiary of VNDC’s past advocacy efforts, Aisha Bello, a mother of three in the Federal Capital Territory, shared her experience: “Before I joined a VNDC awareness programme, I was hesitant about vaccines. “But after learning from other women in my community, I made sure all my children got their routine immunizations. Now, I encourage other mothers to do the same.”The symposium reinforced the message that women are not just beneficiaries of health policies—they must be active participants in shaping them.As Nigeria strives to improve immunization coverage and strengthen its healthcare system, harnessing the power of women’s voices in policy discussions remains essential for sustainable progress.