SOLWEZI CLERGY STOP PARENTS FROM VACCINATING CHILDREN AGAINST POLIO

SOME church leaders are not allowing their congregants to take their children for polio vaccination, Solwezi District Health Director, Lengwe Chipili has disclosed.

Speaking in Solwezi during polio vaccination campaign launch held at Solwezi urban clinic Dr. Lengwe appealed to the church leaders to engage his office so that they explain to them the safety of the vaccine.

He said the Solwezi district health office does not want to record any case of polio and disability among children hence the appeal to all parents to get their children vaccinated against polio.

“I am encouraging the church leaders, we have received reports in Solwezi that some leaders are not allowing their congregants to take their children or to receive this vaccine, so it is my appeal that they engage us at the district health office that we explain the safety of these vaccines and the fact that we don’t want to record a report of polio even disability has been a challenge but if we can prevent it let us do that,” Dr Lengwe said.

He called upon all the clergy who may have heard contrary information regarding polio vaccines to go to the district health office so that all their concerns can be addressed.

Dr. Lengwe said the district has set the target of vaccinating 27, 000 children, out of which 13, 000 children have already been vaccinated as of yesterday. Polio vaccination campaign which kicked off on April 25, 2022 is being done in all the 10 provinces of Zambia after the neighboring country Malawi recorded a report of polio in February this year. - ZANIS