Wamakko (Sokoto State) – The UN Children’s Fund has announced that no fewer than 3000 cases of rejection were recorded during the immunisation against wild polio virus in Sokoto State in October.
The fund’s Communication Consultant, Fahd Mehdi, said at the inauguration of the 2015 last round immunisation campaign at Arkillan-Liman in Wamakko Local Government Area on Saturday that there was, however, cooperation by some of the people.
”Although there was maximum community support, there were some cases of non-compliance or refection, especially in Wamakko local government.
”Some measures had been taken to ensure maximum compliance this time which include recruitment of 200 youth mobilisers in addition to district heads, community and religious leaders,” he added.
He, however, expressed optimism that polio would be fully eliminated in Nigeria in the next one year.
Meanwhile, two cases of non-compliance or rejection were recorded on Friday in Sokoto North Local Government Area.
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An official of the agency, Fatima Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that two houses with four children had rejected the vaccination in protest against its frequency and no free drugs at primary health centres in the area.
The focal person in charge of Magajin Gari ‘in Sokoto, Babangida Shehu, said drugs had been provided to the centres and were being distributed free.
An official of the World Health Organisation in Sokoto, Dr Ishaq Hassan, reassured the people of the organisation’s continuous support for the elimination of the six child-killer diseases in Nigeria.
Hassan urged the people to avail themselves of the routine immunisation against the diseases provided freely at some designated centres in the state.
The village head of Arkillan-Liman, Alhaji Muhammadu Chedi, said that they would continue to collaborate with the government to ensure polio was eradicated in the state and Nigeria in general. (NAN)