Church leaders from various denominations across Western Province gathered at the Kukudu Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Mission compound, Kolombangara on Tuesday for a vital workshop aimed at strengthening faith-based advocacy on child immunization.
The one-day event, organised by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Solomon Islands, was conducted under the Demand Generation for Immunisation in Solomon Islands (DGISI) project with funding support from UNICEF.
Held under the theme “Protecting Every Child Through Immunizations,” the workshop brought together church representatives from United Church, SSEC Movement, Destiny Church, SDA, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and CFC churches representing Roviana, Vella, and North Kolombangara regions.
The initiative focused on empowering religious leaders to use their influence to raise awareness on the importance of immunization, particularly in rural and remote communities where healthcare access is limited.
Speaking to Solomon Star, DGISI Project Coordinator Sharon Kele explained the workshop is intended to equip church leaders with accurate information so they can effectively communicate the importance of immunization during sermons and other church-related gatherings.
“Churches reach wide audiences, especially during weekend services and weekly programs. If pastors and church leaders speak up on the importance of vaccines, it will reach more people and help address hesitancy,” Ms. Kele said.
She added that beyond faith leaders, the project also works with 12 trained community champions in various zones who continue to advocate and disseminate key health messages.
“This is the first such workshop held in Western Province, following similar ones conducted in Honiara earlier this year,” she noted.
The Western Provincial Health and Medical Services (WPHMS) team also took part, using the opportunity to conduct health awareness on cervical cancer, HPV, and other preventable diseases.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in interactive sessions, including group discussions and planning exercises on how to integrate health messages into their religious and community platforms.
A local faith leader praised the initiative, saying; “This training has given us the knowledge we need to speak confidently about immunization. It’s not only a health issue, but a responsibility we have as spiritual leaders to protect our children.”
The workshop concluded with a collective commitment from all attending church leaders to actively promote immunization awareness in their congregations and to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ ongoing efforts to improve routine immunization coverage across the country.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
