“Push Diarrhea Away” campaign reaches 30,000 in Benue state
SHOPS Plus launched a multi-pronged campaign in Benue state, Nigeria, to stop preventable child deaths from diarrhea. The “Push Diarrhea Away” campaign uses local government leaders, faith leaders, and community volunteers to help spread the message that ORS and zinc should be used to treat uncomplicated diarrhea in children under 5.
More than 200,000 children in Nigeria die each year from diarrhea-related illness, and most communities in Benue state have seen diarrhea-related deaths.
The campaign has reached nearly 30,000 people through road show performances, advocacy visits to rulers of all 23 local government areas in the state, and an official campaign launch event with speeches from well-known public figures in February 2017. At the launch, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo, state commissioner for health and human services, advised the audience on the eradication of diarrheal disease through handwashing, improved quality of drinking water, environmental cleanliness, and avoiding open defecation.
The state’s first lady, Dr. Eunice Ortom, attended the launch event and was recognized as an ORS and zinc champion. In a ceremonial gesture, Dr. Ortom handed batons to wives of local government leaders in Benue State, asking that they be ORS and zinc advocates. She charged them to spread the message of the appropriate treatment for diarrhea. More than 60 other volunteers were recognized at the event. Dozens of young children attended, wearing shirts emblazoned with the campaign name.
“We should endeavor to integrate ORS and zinc messages into our various activities . . . at [the] grassroots level to facilitate a quick scale-up of this intervention and sustain good practices of diarrhea treatment at [the] household level to save the Benue child,” said Dr. Ortom.
SHOPS Plus is working to improve country ownership and ensure sustainability of this ongoing communication campaign.
Image Gallery
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SHOPS Plus staff met with rulers of all 23 local government areas in Benue state to request their political commitment to diarrhea prevention and treatment efforts -
Event attendees took home boxes of ORS and zinc after the campaign launch event | Photo credit: Aleva Shiaondo Fidelis -
More than 200 government officials, faith leaders, community leaders, and community volunteers participated in the campaign launch event | Photo credit: Aleva Shiaondo Fidelis -
The first lady of Benue state, Dr. Eunice Ortom, handed batons to wives of local government sole administrators, asking them to be ORS and zinc advocates | Photo credit: Aleva Shiaondo Fidelis -
SHOPS Plus staff met with rulers of all 23 local government areas in Benue state to request their political commitment to diarrhea prevention and treatment efforts; Henry Usha (left) of Sev-Av Foundation meets with Ter Ukum, Chief Ahanbee Biam (right) -
Actors perform a skit during the campaign launch ceremony | Photo credit: Aleva Shiaondo Fidelis -
The first lady of Benue state, Dr. Eunice Ortom (left), meets Ayodele Iroko (right), chief of party of the SHOPS Plus team in Nigeria -
Dancers and actors toured the state by truck, spreading awareness of diarrhea management information through short performances -
Bishop William Avenya of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko (left) and Bishop Peter Adoboh of Catholic Diocese of Katsina-Ala (right) attended the campaign launch event | Photo credit: Aleva Shiaondo Fidelis -
The Push Diarrhea Away campaign reached diverse groups, including commercial motorcycle riders -
Dr. Eunice Ortom, Benue state's first lady (right), shares a word with Justice Mary Abounu, wife of the deputy governor (left). Photo credit: Aleva Shiaondo Fidelis -
Primary school students from the state capital attended the campaign launch event and sang about ORS and zinc | Photo credit: Aleva Shiaondo Fidelis
