Nigerians Travelling Abroad Must Take Polio Vaccine by 2013 – WHO
Posted on Friday, December 14th, 2012 at 2:49 AMBy Adeola Adeyemo
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that by May 2013, all Nigerians traveling abroad would be compelled to take the oral polio vaccine. This was noted by Dr. Ray Nihar, an official of the WHO yesterday in Kaduna.
He said children and adults traveling out of Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan must be certified as having been vaccinated against polio “to reduce the substantial risk of the virus spreading to polio-free countries.”
The WHO official also added that the report issued by the International Monitory Board on Polio revealed that “too many communities” regard polio vaccination as an imposition with no benefit. He said polio eradication was vital in affected countries, adding that neighbouring countries would not be safe.
In an interview with NAN, the Chief of Kagoro, Afuwai Bonet, urged legislators to participate in the fight against polio in their respective constituencies.
Bonet said compelling Nigerians traveling abroad to take the vaccine would be an embarrassment to Nigeria, including the legislators.
It is sad that Nigeria is still grappling with the effects of Polio and hasn’t completely eradicated the disease. Having to take polio vaccines or present evidence of vaccination, like the Chief said, would be an embarrassment to Nigerians. Hopefully, the relevant authorities would look into this to make speedy moves towards polio eradication.
What are your thoughts on the WHO’s recommendation?
Tags: Ray Nihar, World Health Organisation
Do you blame WHO? Some parts of Nigeria, due to ignorance refused to be vaccinated.
When one finger dips into an oil, it smears other fingers.
sigh!! imagine d insult.. mtcheewwww, abeg! i cnt wait 4 my blue passport 2 come out, cnt wait 2 dispose dat fucking green passport dat shuts dwn ur destiny nd yes i knw all u haters re gonna hate, nd do i care??? Hell Nooo.. hehehehe :p
I don’t blame them at all… Most parents wouldn’t allow a public health worker go near their child for immunization just because they have this wack believe… *Ignorance, blind sentiment and illiteracy* http://www.brandigest.wordpress.com
abokis>>>
people should know that some vaccines do more harm than good. who know what these pharmaceutical companies but in these vaccines? that’s how they gave us AIDS and claimed that we got it from monkeys, what of Pfizer’s case in Nigeria. i have also heard some conspiracy theories about a plan to reduce the world population with vaccines and drugs/medicine and i’m sure it is still ongoing, of course they’ll target the poor countries first. na dem sabi. only God can help us now. this world is ruled by wicked people who make money and destroy the lives of innocent people.
This is a good news that Nigeria has brought down the number of Polio cases. We should understand that eradicating a disease from the face of globe is not easy. So far we have done it for small pox and Polio can be the second. When the whole world could do this than definitely Nigeria could do this. Some people think that this is an proxy way of controlling population. If this is true than Niger which has eradicated polio would not have higher birth rate than Nigeria. If polio is present any where than it is threat for every where in the world. The responsibility of NIgeria, Pakistan and Afganistan to ensure that polio should not transmit across their border….which will again worsen the situation. This is a welcome sign..