Health experts seek improved DPT vaccine uptake in Kwara

Health experts, researchers and policymakers have called for intensified public awareness, stronger partnerships and evidence-based policies to improve the uptake of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccines in Kwara State and across Nigeria.

The call was made on Thursday during the dissemination of findings from an ongoing research project titled “Enhancing Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) Vaccine Uptake through Targeted Health Education in High-Traffic Community Spaces in Kwara State,” funded by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The event, held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, brought together officials of the Kwara State Ministry of Health, academics, healthcare professionals and members of the research team to deliberate on practical strategies for tackling vaccine hesitancy and strengthening routine immunisation.

Presenting the study, the Principal Investigator, Abdulrahman Abdulbasit Opeyemi, said the intervention recorded a significant improvement in participants’ knowledge of diphtheria, vaccination and access to immunisation services.

“Our findings demonstrate that targeted health education can significantly improve awareness of diphtheria and increase acceptance of vaccination. This reinforces the need to integrate vaccine education into schools and other community platforms to build a more informed and health-conscious population,” he said.

Abdulbasit also advocated the engagement of students as vaccination ambassadors in schools and higher institutions, saying young people could play a critical role in influencing positive health behaviours within their families and communities.

Speaking earlier, the Director of Medical Laboratory Services at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr Kolawole Ayobami Tajudeen, described the research as a product of collaboration and commitment to addressing one of Nigeria’s pressing public health challenges.

According to him, the project progressed from a carefully developed concept to a successful intervention, culminating in findings capable of informing future immunisation policies and programmes.

Also speaking, the Kwara State Health Promotion Officer, Mr Jibril Abdulkarim, said the state government had continued to strengthen community engagement through the deployment of health mobilisers across the 16 local government areas to improve public confidence in routine immunisation.

“We are complementing these efforts with sustained public enlightenment to ensure more residents understand the importance of vaccination and access available immunisation services,” he said.

Professor Abdulwasiu Oladele Hassan, a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, healthcare professionals, researchers, development partners and communities.

“Sustained collaboration will not only generate innovative solutions to vaccine hesitancy but will also attract funding for large-scale interventions capable of improving immunisation coverage and strengthening Nigeria’s public health system,” he said.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr Kamaldeen Khadeejah, disclosed that the Kwara State Ministry of Health had continued to leverage radio programmes and other mass media platforms, including Kwara Health Gist, to promote vaccine awareness.

She urged researchers to work closely with the ministry in designing and implementing public health studies to ensure wider reach, stronger policy relevance and greater community impact.

The Chief Medical Director of Sobi Specialist Hospital, Dr Muhammed Shaliu Shenni, commended the research team for selecting the hospital as one of the study sites, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to supporting ethical research, community sensitisation and quality healthcare delivery.

In his closing remarks, the Acting Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kwara State University, Malete, Mr Mustapha Abdulrasak, appreciated the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the National Institute for Health and Care Research for funding the project.

He also commended the Kwara State Ministry of Health for granting ethical approval and participating in the dissemination meeting, the management of Sobi Specialist Hospital for providing access to the study site, the research team for its dedication, and the community leaders and study participants for their support throughout the project.

Abdulrasak urged policymakers to adopt the study’s evidence-based recommendations, noting that scaling similar interventions beyond Kwara State would strengthen routine immunisation and improve public health outcomes across Nigeria.