RED CROSS, C’RIVER GOVT PARTNER TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCACY THROUGH TRAINING OF TRAINERS ON IMMUNISATION AND BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE
✓ Two-day capacity-building workshop empowers health educators and social mobilisation officers from all 18 LGAs under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods Project to boost vaccine awareness, counter misinformation, and promote preventive healthcare.
Photo Caption: Participants during the opening session of the RCCE/SBC Training of Trainers for Immunisation Life Course Approach held at Keeves Inn, Calabar.
By Amawu, Cletus Albert Amawu.
Calabar, Nigeria — The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Cross River State Branch, in collaboration with the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), has commenced a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Risk Communication and Community Engagement/Social Behaviour Change (RCCE/SBC) for the Immunisation Life Course Approach.
The workshop, held from 14th to 15th October 2025 at Keeves Inn and Suites Limited, Calabar, forms part of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) Phase 2 Project, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The capacity-building initiative brought together Social Mobilisation Officers (SMOs), Assistant Health Educators, and other public health communication experts from all 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Cross River State, Media Practitioners, with the aim of strengthening community engagement, countering misinformation, and enhancing demand creation for immunisation and other essential health services.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Preventive Healthcare
Declaring the workshop open, Dr Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Special Adviser on Health to Governor Bassey Edet Otu, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to a people-centred, preventive healthcare delivery system.
“This training aligns perfectly with Governor Bassey Otu’s ‘People First’ philosophy. The government believes that a healthy population is the foundation for sustainable development and effective governance,” Dr Bassey said.
He emphasised that the workshop would equip participants with vital communication and behavioural change strategies required to improve public health outcomes.
“It is better to prevent diseases than to cure them. Our people must understand the activities that make them vulnerable and those that can help them stay healthy, from immunisation and good nutrition to clean water and sanitation,” he added.
Dr Bassey also commended the Nigerian Red Cross Society and its partners for their unwavering support during public health emergencies and outbreak response efforts, pledging to report the impact of such collaborations to the state governor.
Stakeholders Commend Red Cross’ Humanitarian Role
Mrs Catherine Ukpepi, State Health Educator, Cross River State Ministry of Health, praised the Nigerian Red Cross Society for expanding the training to include participants from all 18 LGAs, a major step forward from previous sessions.
“I commend the Red Cross for its humanitarian spirit. They are not just partners; they are people-driven and genuinely committed to improving the wellbeing of our communities,” she said.
She urged participants to take the training seriously and cascade the knowledge gained to their respective LGAs.
“Please pay attention, because you are here not just to attend but to learn and train others. You never know what next phase of implementation the Red Cross might introduce, so be prepared,” Mrs Ukpepi advised.
Training Marks a Milestone in Cross River’s Health Communication Efforts
In her remarks, Mrs Nsa EkpenyongMrs Nsa Ekpenyong, State Social Mobilisation Officer (SSMO), described the event as “a dream come true” and historic, being the first time that all 18 LGA SMOs and their assistants were trained together.
“Most times, we talk about improving community health programmes, but without the right skills and information, we risk spreading misinformation. This training ensures every health educator and social mobilisation officer is well-equipped to deliver accurate and culturally appropriate health messages,” she stated.
Mrs Ekpenyong disclosed that the training also served as part of early preparations for the rollout of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine campaign across southern states, including Cross River, scheduled for February 2026.
“We must start early so that by the time the campaign begins, communities will already be well-informed about the vaccine and its benefits,” she explained.
She emphasised the need for participants to “cascade the training downwards,” ensuring that every ward and community benefits from the knowledge shared, in line with the integrated approach to community engagement and demand creation for primary healthcare services.
Sessions and Technical Highlights
Throughout the two-day workshop, participants engaged in several interactive and technical sessions, including:
✓ Objectives and Expected Outcomes of the ToT
✓ Introduction to Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilisation (ACSM)
✓ Community Engagement and Feedback Mechanisms
✓ Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Skills for Health Workers
✓ Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)
✓ Overview of the 2025 Integrated Campaign: Measles-Rubella, Routine Immunisation, Polio, HPV, Malaria, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
These sessions were designed to enhance participants’ understanding of integrated health campaigns and improve their communication, coordination, and community feedback management capacities.
Red Cross Reiterates Commitment to Grassroots Health Engagement
A representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mrs Fatima Aminu Ibrahim, reaffirmed the national agency’s support for collaborative initiatives such as this, noting that the Red Cross’ involvement demonstrates strong humanitarian leadership in advancing Nigeria’s public health goals.
“Do not let the investment made in this training go to waste. You are the drivers of community health messages, ensure that what you learn here translates into tangible improvements in your LGAs,” she urged.
Dr. Abdulmajid Ahmad, Senior Project Officer (SPO), of the Nigerian Red Cross was part of the facilitators, while Mrs Gertrude Usani, NRCS- Branch Health Officer, coordinated the training.
The Training of Trainers workshop thus underscores a growing multi-sectoral commitment to strengthening community resilience, vaccine confidence, and health literacy in Cross River State.
By empowering local health educators and communicators with modern tools in RCCE and SBC, the initiative aims to build public trust in immunisation, foster sustainable behavioural change, and contribute to the state’s broader vision of a healthier, better-informed citizenry.
Photo Caption: Participants during the opening session of the RCCE/SBC Training of Trainers for Immunisation Life Course Approach held at Keeves Inn, Calabar.
