Several families in Gwiwa Tungar Dole, Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State, have turned away health officials during the ongoing house-to-house polio immunisation drive, citing personal medical concerns.
According to The PUNCH, during the campaign, which started on April 26 and runs through April 29, four households refused to allow their children to receive the oral polio vaccine. Among those declining the immunisation were the families of Alhaji Buban Illela Mai Engine and Bashir Muhammad of Gwiwa Gurgawo, who reportedly stated that their children were undergoing other medical treatments.
However, community leaders in the area have challenged these reasons. The Magajin Lugga of Gwiwa, Alhaji Yusuf Umar Lagaza, described the explanations as “flimsy excuses,” emphasizing the critical need for full participation in the immunisation exercise.
“We are committed to revisiting these households to ensure every child is protected. Immunisation is not something we can afford to joke with,” Lagaza told reporters on Monday.
The vaccination campaign, backed by the Sokoto State Government in collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners, aims to boost coverage, especially in communities that have previously recorded low compliance rates.
Despite the refusals, the campaign has made substantial progress, with high turnout reported in areas like Gwiwa Bela and parts of Gwiwa Tungar Dole. Lagaza confirmed that health teams were now moving through additional settlements, including Gwiwa Gurgawo and Gwiwa Garkar Lagaza.
He urged parents across the local government to prioritize their children’s well-being by ensuring they are immunised against polio and by seeking other essential health services at designated facilities.
“Parents must understand that vaccines are safe and necessary. Protecting the next generation from polio is a responsibility we all share,” he said.
The ongoing exercise is part of intensified efforts to eradicate polio in Sokoto State and across Nigeria, following global concerns about potential resurgence in underserved areas.
