women advocates for vaccine access
TRANSCRIPT
WOMEN ADVOCATES FOR VACCINE ACCESS
Training on Immunization Advocacy for member civil society organizations (CSOs): WAVA members are trained on skills required to effectively conduct key advocacy activities including resource mobilization, development of advocacy plans, use of social media for advocacy/social marketing, sourcing reliable data for advocacy or decision-making, stakeholder mapping and engagement, good communication and monitoring and evaluation among others. This is a c o n t i n u o u s effort. As such, new cohorts are trained following recruitment of more members into the coalition. All this is geared towards ensuring the provision of sufficient funds for immunization in the 2017 budgets and subsequent budgets.
Inauguration of Vaccine Champions and Small Grants Programme: Eonferred the honour of Vaccine Champions to become
influential voices for equitable access to immunization and sustainable immunization financing. WAVA Vaccine Champions include Her Excellency, Mrs. Toyin Saraki (Wife of Senate President); Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate, (former Nigerian Minister of State for Health); Hon. Muhammed Usman, Deputy Chairman (House
ight distinguished Nigerians were c
Who We Are
WAVA is a coalition of women-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria advocating for increased routine immunization uptake and sustainable financing, founded in 2011, WAVA is a registered entity with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Current activities are supported by the Johns Hopkins University International Vaccine Access Center (JHU-IVAC), through Direct Consulting and Logistics (DCL).
Our Mission
WAVA is dedicated to the development of appropriate policies and sustainable health system to ensure equity and continuity in vaccine access.
Our Vision
We envision a world where individuals - irrespective of gender, creed, value or physical attribute - can have unhindered access to the vaccines that protect their well-being. and advance the collective good.
What We Have Done
Committee on Health Services, Federal House of Representatives at the National Assembly); Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu (Wife of Kebbi State governor); Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, (Wife of Ogun State governor); Hajiya Hadiza Muhammed Abubakar, (Wife of Bauchi State governor), Mrs. Martha Ebele Yough (Head of Stations WazobiaCoolInfo); and Chief (Mrs.) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo (Iyaloja-General of Nigeria) and President of the Market Women and Men Association of Nigeria. The event was also used to launch the WAVA small grant programme for equitable access through advocacy.
New Media Advocacy for Sustainable Immunization Financing (SIF): Consistent, digital and internet-based website and social media (using the #VaccineGoodOh and #NigFundVaccines hastags) informationdissemination. This is to sensitize people on the value of vaccines and encourage them to become champions and partners for SIF, such as the twitter chat with the wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Bagudu and the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki.
World Pneumonia Day (WPD) Symposium: WPD commemorated on 12th November annually to raise awareness about prevention and effective treatment of pneumonia. The symposium to mark WPD was held on 21st November 2016 under the chairmanship of HRH Dr. Idris Musa - Chairman FCT Council of
Traditional Rulers and member of the National Traditional Rulers Committee on Primary Health Care. At this symposium, the WPD video challenge was launched to raise public awareness and active participation in the “protect, prevent and treat campaign” through the use of social media.
Advocacy Activities: WAVA carries out an array of activities aimed at improving fiscal advocacy for immunization in Nigeria through CSO networks. These include paying courtesy visits to influential individuals or groups, encouraging them to add their voices to achieve WAVA’s mission. Most recently, WAVA national convener, Dr. Chizoba Wonodi and her team visited the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo on March 2017 three months after her investiture as a WAVA Champion. In her response, Chief (Mrs.) Tinubu-Ojo supported by other market leaders, reiterated her commitment to prevail upon policy makers to secure more funding for immunization.
Workshops:Creative Arts and Writing Competition for Secondary Students: In April 2017, 29 students from 11 public and private schools in FCT were hosted to a creative Arts and Writing Competition to create awareness on the value of vaccines and immunization financing in Nigeria. The students expressed their thoughts, ideas and understanding on the topic through painting, drawing and writing. This was aimed at developing ready-to-use messages and artworks for immunization advocacy. The top 12 participants with the best artworks were further enrolled into a social media voting challenge.
Creative Art Workshop for Immunization Advocacy: In March 2017, WAVA hosted her first ever ‘Creative Arts Workshop on Immunization’ in Lagos, Nigeria. The event engaged creative artists with minimal or no health background in the campaign for immunization advocacy. Artists delivered aesthetic and engaging materials – including short videos, cartoons and infographics – which will be used to sustain and increase immunization advocacy efforts.
NIFT Advocacy Subcommittee workshop: In February 2017, the Nigeria Immunization Financing Task Team (NIFT) Advocacy Subcommittee workshop on Advocacy Strategies for Sustainable Immunization Financing took place in Kaduna. The event sought to develop advocacy strategies for the development of a sustainable immunization financing transition plan and to finalize a harmonized advocacy work plan for the year 2017.
In February 2016, WAVA sponsored two members to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in the maiden Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa (MCIA). The event culminated in the signing of the Addis Declaration on Immunization (ADI) by African Heads of State to demonstrate commitment to expanding access to vaccines across the continent.
Where We Work
WAVA partners with any organization, foundation and agency that shares similar aims and objectives and/or is willing to support her vision and activities. Our partners currently include the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) and Direct Consulting and Logistics (DCL).
WAVA Supporters and Partners
Chizoba Wonodi, MBBS, MPH, DrPHNational Convener Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA)Nigeria Country Director, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC)[email protected]; [email protected]+234 810 009 1910
For further Information contact:
WAVA Address:
No. 15 Amazon Street, Off Alvan Ikoku Way
Maitama, FCT Abuja.
@Wavaorgwavaorgwww.facebook.com/wavanigeria
WAVA Secretariat is situated in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and conducts some activities and supervisory functions. The majority of its activities are carried out by its 47-member organisations located in 18 states and FCT (as at 24th April, 2017).
Direct Consulting & Logistics (DCL) office