Misau Local Government Area (LGA) in Bauchi State has recruited 160 male volunteers to form a support group aimed at improving access to healthcare services across communities.

The volunteers operate under the Fathers for Good Health (F4H) initiative, a program backed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) through its Bauchi Field Office. The initiative is designed to harness the influence of fathers in promoting the uptake of vaccines and other essential health services within their communities.

In celebration of the 2025 Father’s Day, communities in Misau praised the impact of the F4H initiative, which has been active for the past 10 months. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to UNICEF for supporting a project that encourages positive health behaviors among men, especially in maternal and child health—spanning from pregnancy to delivery, including immunization.

During the Father’s Day activities, the communities urged for more volunteers to expand the reach of the program. A media team, led by UNICEF, visited Misau to observe the progress made by the Father4Health Support Group in promoting maternal, newborn, and child healthcare.

During the visit, journalists engaged with several members of the group, including Aishatu Isa, a female community mobilizer who supports the initiative by stepping in where cultural or religious restrictions limit the reach of male advocates.

Nura Aliyu, a father of two and group member, recounted the transformation in community health behavior since the initiative launched. “Before this, many resisted polio immunization, pregnant women rarely attended antenatal clinics, and home births were common—often leading to complications,” he said.

“Thanks to the Fathers for Good Health initiative, attitudes have changed. More people now understand the importance of hospital visits, immunization, and proper antenatal care. Even children who were malnourished are recovering,” Nura added.

Another group member, Ibrahim Mohammed, said the volunteers routinely engage men across communities, raising awareness on the need to immunize children and ensure expectant mothers attend clinics and deliver at health facilities. Their efforts, he said, have yielded remarkable results.

Female volunteer Hajiya Aisha Yusuf explained her role in bridging cultural gaps. “I often intervene in areas men can’t access due to religious or traditional restrictions. Together, we’re working to bring healthcare closer to people in rural areas through advocacy and education,” she said.

According to her, there has been a notable improvement in how locals embrace the group’s activities, with more women and children accessing skilled health services at designated centers.

One powerful story came from Turaki Goje, a father of 20 children and several grandchildren. Initially opposed to immunization, Goje said he believed it was unnecessary since he grew up without it. But after repeated visits from Father4Health members, he finally agreed to listen.

“After hearing their message, I allowed my eligible children to be immunized. Today, they are all healthy, and I’m grateful,” he shared.

He praised UNICEF for initiating the program and commended the Misau LGA chairman for embracing a project that is clearly transforming lives.