Kenya in push to make immunisation a must for school children

NAIROBI: During a field visit, a six-year-old girl recognised him as the polio-man on TV. But he does not mind this reference, as long it increases the awareness of polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases because he believes that there-in, outbreaks are prevented and lives saved.

And for this noble cause, Harold Kipchumba was a fortnight ago recognised as the 2015 UN Kenya Award winner and as per the citation, he earned the recognition for his ‘selfless and unwavering effort to advocate for vaccination against polio and sustaining momentum for immunisation of children against vaccine preventable diseases.’

Hot on the heels after this recognition, Mr Kipchumba has begun a call pushing for a policy on admissions in Kenyan schools requiring pupils to have gone through the prescribed immunisation policy.

“This will seek to increase the vaccination ratio triggering parental input in ensuring children follow-through the  routine to ensure they get admitted to school,” said Kipchumba, a former nominated Senator.

And whereas he recognises this will deny parents their right of conscientious refusal, he says public awareness and working with legislators on the importance of vaccinating most of the population against preventable diseases will check on the expected resistance.

Kipchumba expressed gratitude for the UN award terming it a boost for the fight against conditions like tetanus, measles, polio, whooping cough, diphtheria, rotavirus diarrhoea, hepatitis and meningitis that continually maim and kill thousands of newborns and infants annually.

“This recognition means serving mankind is worthy,” he said in an interview with The Standard on Saturday.

Fatuma Yussuf Abdullahi who is a nominated MCA in Wajir County and a polio survivor, who has been identified as a volunteer in Wajir to create awareness, hailed the award terming it timely.

And even in the immunisation row the Government has had with the Catholic Church, the WHO and UNICEF office estimate that the accumulation of unimmunised children against polio contributed to polio outbreaks in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 leading to paralysis of 38 children and death of 2 adults in Kenya.

Kipchumba acknowledges that the propagation of myths on immunisation is particularly dangerous for the present population and generations to come because untruths spread faster than forest fire on a windy afternoon. He recognises that myths attain the power of truth through transmission from authority figures like parents, teachers, older friends and acquaintances and thus should be handled earliest to backtrack on gains made so far countrywide, and in the region.

He firmly believes in the herd immunity principle where if a large percentage of a population is immunised against an infectious disease, chances of spreading are limited because this indirectly protects the pocket of those who aren’t.

Sober talk

“There are pockets of resistance that threaten success of immunisation and there is need to have sober discussions by providing accurate information with not only the Catholic Church, but all conflicting bodies and persons and present,” he added.

He reminisced the 1960s, growing up in the Rift Valley. Born in Kaptiony, Baringo County, Kipchumba shared his triumphs with polio as a survivor and advocate but is not blind to the myths that abound on children infected with this disabling disease.

While at Lenana School, disability did not put him down as he was chairman of clubs like Wildlife, Economics and Swahili. He also served as the entertainment prefect. He considers these opportunities, a golden chance.

“I consider myself even luckier because had I been born at the turn of the 20th century, I would have suffered the tragedy experienced by children of my kind among the pastoralists where polio was considered a curse and children were placed at the kraal’s exit so they could be stumbled to death by the huge numbers of cattle owned by the nomadic community,” Kipchumba said in his acceptance speech.

He appreciated the selflessness of his mother Ruth Kobilo in search of treatment as she made trips from Kabarnet hospital in Baringo, Nakuru hospital carrying him on her back before she was eventually referred to Kenyatta National Hospital.

Faced with a dilemma that her son’s limbs remained weak and the doctors did not offer a solution that would make her son whole agai“In her silent thoughts and monologues she wondered why her son had stopped walking. Why had the fever left his right leg weak and the massaging not helped? What exactly was it – a curse? Why didn’t the doctors have answers?” Kipchumba remembers her mother’s concerns. She tried all she could with her limited capacities to get me cured, he added.

He acknowledged the challenges of growing up with disability citing both physical and psychological difficulties at school and other institutions, profession and in social circles. “Polio survivors are crushed by culture, traditional and religious restraints.

He cites Wangari Maathai, Nelson Mandela and late Bishop Alexander Muge as his mentors. a. His wife, Dorothy and their three sons, Hillary, Dennis and Moses, are his anchors in his advocacy, he said. “Polio vaccine and all other vaccines are safe and effective. Immunisation is not a choice, it is every one’s responsibility,” he concluded. Other nominees to this award this year were Narok County First Lady Sarah Tunai, Martha Karua and Walk of Hope initiative.