AFENET NIGERIA TRAINED KOGI NSLOs FOR N-STOP PROGRAMMES

About a month ago, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) through it’s National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) Program in collaboration with the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, conducted interview for the position of N-STOP Local Government Officers (NSLOs) in the State. Eleven (11) applicants were successful and have been engaged by AFENET to work in the 21 LGAs of Kogi State.

3 days inception training was organized for the newly recruited NSLOs alongside  Local Government Teams involving Local Immunization Officers (LIOs), Routine  Immunization Officers (RIOs) and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) from the 21 LGAs and State team involving PM State Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre (SERICC), State Health Educator (SHE), State Immunization Officer (SIO), State DSNO, SMS and DHIS2 Focal Persons.

The training was scheduled between 4^th -6^th August, 2020 with the objective to improve immunization service delivery and strengthen Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) surveillance and outbreak response in the State.

Dr Abubakar Yakubu – Executive Director KGSPHCDA who delivered the opening address and declared the training open, immensely appreciated AFENET for their role in the eradication of Polio in the State and by extension, the Country. He appreciated all health development partners whose collaborative efforts have brought about declaring Nigeria Wild Polio free. He however charged everyone that the breakthrough ‘is an opportunity to double efforts to see that the wild polio free status is sustained and as well prevent resurgence’. He particularly appreciated AFENET’s support and donation of 21 laptops to the LGAs in recent past to aid data management and timeliness of reporting. Also to the credit of AFENET, the ED mentioned that the present State Immunization Officer (SIO) – Mrs Ajuma Apeh is a product of AFENET training and she can be listed amongst the best in the country. Other benefits included the training of SMS and DHIS2 Focal persons.

The ED expressed optimism that with the introduction and recruitment of  NSLO’s to work with the LG teams, more successes will be recorded and the health indices of the State’s performance on immunization and other VPDs will be greatly improved. He advised the participants to seize every opportunity to get the best from the training and upgrade their knowledge. The ED equally welcomed the new NSLOs on board and charged all trainees to ensure collaboration at all levels so that the State can achieve its goals.

Goodwill messages from other Partners were delivered by Pharm ken Adejo – State Coordinator W.H.O.,  Mr Olumide Adeyeye – UNICEF VSL with the State and Mr Olorunmaiye Ade Theophilus – PM SERICC Kogi State.

The State Focal Person for AFENET – Dr Felix Mbodi promised continued partnership with the Agency and LGAs to halt the spread of Poliomyelitis. He added that AFENET is in the State to support immunization sessions and how to manage data generated for action.

The last day of the training witnessed the newly recruited NSLOs receiving their letters of posting and introduction to their various LGAs of assignment.