Polio: Gov Aliyu threatens to prosecute parents over non-compliance
NFrom Aliyu M. Hamagam, Minna
iger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has warned parents in the state to desist from the attitude of non-compliance on the administration of the polio vaccine on their children, saying, the law against defaulters would be fully enforced. The governor made this known yesterday during the round six of the Immunisation Plus Days programme flagged off in Paiko. He said his administration would no longer tolerate defaulters, particularly parents that still nurse apathy towards the vaccine, adding that the penalty for refusing the vaccine is a two-year imprisonment or N50, 000 fine.
“We are also committed to ensuring that every child is immunised against all preventable diseases. We have directed all 25 local governments to drive the process of immunisation campaign and primary health care delivery in the grassroots,” he said.
Governor Aliyu urged parents and health care givers to continue to encourage the immunisation of children and wards so as to prevent the spread of the disease.
In her remark, the Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services in the state, Hajiya Hadiza Abdullahi, reminded parents of the danger of denying their parents and wards the opportunity of immunisation. She revealed that a case of polio is capable of endangering 200 other children in the neighbourhood.
“It is important to note that one confirmed case of the wild polio virus has the potential to infect 200 children in the community,” she said.