Women held for resisting polio vaccination

By Kenan Miruka and Kepher Otieno

Two women in Gucha have been arrested for preventing their children from being vaccinated against polio.

The women were arrested outside a church at Eburi village in Nyansara sub-location and are being held at Ogembo Police Station.

Gucha District Medical Officer of Health Richard Onkware said vaccinators wanted to administer polio drops on the children but the women declined.

The preacher, a secondary school teacher, declined to grant them permission and instead ordered them to listen to his sermon. "Our vaccinators were kept waiting for hours until they sought the help of area assistant chief, but his efforts proved futile," said Dr Onkware.

Police from Nyamasege were called prompting the preacher to cut short his session.

"We asked those with children under five to remain within the church, but some escaped through the fence. We vaccinated some children but the two women aged 19 and 24 refused to allow theirs, aged seven and 10 months, to receive drops," said public health officer James Obae.

The women were arrested and taken to Ogembo Police Station where they are still being held.

Since the third round of the emergency polio mop-up vaccination campaign was launched at the weekend, 27,753 children have been immunised. "We are targeting over 40,000 children under five, which we surpassed in the previous round. The women will be prosecuted if they insist. We have informed the DEO to investigate the teacher’s conduct," said Onkware.

Contagious

Meanwhile, in Trans Mara District, the third round of polio immunisation continued with the local Provincial Administration warning they will arrest parents who failed to bring their children for vaccination.

More than 54,000 children below the age of five are being targeted in both Trans Mara West and East districts.

According to area coordinator Zephania Irura, the exercise was being conducted by a group of health officers accompanied by volunteers.

Mr Irura appealed to parents to ensure that despite immunising their children against polio, they should also observe routine vaccination for their children.

"Polio is contagious and can travel silently from village to village and country to country. The only way to stop the spread is through immunisation," said Irura.

— Additional reporting by Leonard Korir