Woman on the run to keep children off polio jab | The People
Police at Kamukuywa in Kimilili constituency are looking for a woman who has gone into hiding after blocking Ministry of Health officials from immunising her children. The woman, who hails from Nabikoto village, has been in the run for the last three days with her family to avoid getting the jab.
The woman claims that polio vaccine will kill her children and has vowed not to allow it happen. A neighbour, Ann Nafula, said the woman flees her home every time health officers launch the exercise in the area. Kimilili ministry of health (MoH) Mutoro Wambasi has directed police to look for the woman and ensure the children are immunised.
He said if the woman’s three children do not get the polio jabs then they pose a threat to other children in the neighbourhood. ‘’These three must be immunised because they will spread the disease to children in the village despite them being immunised,’’ said Mutoro. He asked the area chief Eliud Kisiang’ani to assist the police in arresting the woman.
Explaining to residents on the importance of the jab to children, Mutoro said polio vaccine has no dangers and wondered why some parents were hiding their children. ‘’I am appealing to the local administration to sensitise their people on the need of vaccinating children who are under five years,’’ he said. Mutoro warned that the government will not condone anybody found frustrating the immunisation exercise in the region. – By YUSUF MASIBO
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure safety of its residents including immunising children against diseases. Photo/FILE
