By Lawal A Dogara, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government on Wednesday dismissed rumour of circulation of harmful vaccination in the state as false.
Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant to the governor on Media, said this in a statement in Kaduna.
Aruwan urged parents to remain calm and make their children and wards available for the exercise.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to state clearly that there is no such harmful vaccination that is taking place in any part of the state.
“The state wishes to re-assure all parents and guardians of the safety, potency and effectiveness of all vaccines including polio and measles.
“Residents should also note that the same vaccines are being used for all eligible children across the world.
“These vaccines most importantly meet international standards and quality set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and are further certified by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control(NAFDAC),” the statement read in part.
He reiterated that the future of every society was predicated on guaranteeing good health and education of children.
“We will vigorously pursue rights and privileges of children to the later as prescribed by law books and other conventions,” said the aide.
However, he warned that any parent, guardian or institution found prohibiting health workers from carrying out their statutory functions would be prosecuted in line with the prescribed laws.
“All parents, guardians or institutions in the state must observe that availability of children for all kinds of immunisation is not optional but compulsory.
“The best love to be shown to our children as bastion of the future is to free them from avoidable death traps for a better life and realisation of their talents and potentials,” Aruwan said.
He commended religious and traditional institutions for their overwhelming support towards immunisation campaigns in the past and solicit the continued support of stakeholders in tackling renewed challenges.
Also speaking, the state Coordinator of Journalists Initiative on Immunisation against polio, Mr L. A. Dogara, appealed to parents to make their children available for vaccination for the betterment of their future.
