Northern Traditional Rulers advocate criminalisation of Polio Immunization resistance

By: Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir,  Kaduna.
Traditional Rulers from the nineteen Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have advocated for the criminalisation of polio immunisation by parents, guardian and groups through enacting laws by the various states.
The Shehu of Bama and Chairman, Northern Traditional Rulers Committee on Primary Health Care, Alhaji Kyari Umar Elkanemi made the call when he led the team on a call to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
He stressed that this become imperative following their efforts thus far in curbing the wild polio virus and with about less than a year and half to the certification of Nigeria as freed of the virus by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Elkanami said the traditional institution is part of the success story in Nigeria and they need the political will and moral support of the state governors to surmount some of the challenges ahead.
He said Kano State has set the pace for the enactment of law to provide punitive measures for anyone who deny his child or ward the polio immunisation.
The traditional rulers assured of their continnues role in sensitisation, mobilisation and enlightment of their subjects for global curbing of, and total elimination of the wild polio virus.
In his remark, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Arc. Bala Bantex urged the traditional rulers to leverage on issues beyond health for the development and growth of the region, as the whole Northern states have things in common.
Bantex said the wild polio virus knows no boundary, and with the committee, the effort of the Governors will not be diminished.
He asserted that without the traditional rulers, the level of resistance by some communities would not have been overcome so easily.
He urged them to sustain their effort in the interest of the populace whom they are custodians of.
The next meeting of the committee is billed to hold July in Jos, Plateau State.