Four houses in Gwiwa Tungar Dole, Wamakko Local Government Area, Sokoto State, have refused to allow their children to get oral polio vaccinations as part of the ongoing house-to-house immunisation campaign.
The families, including those of Bashir Muhammad of Gwiwa Gurgawo and Alhaji Buban Illela Mai Engine, rejected the immunisations, citing ongoing medical treatments abroad.
However, a community leader in the area, the Magajin Lugga Alhaji Yusuf Umar Lagaza, on Monday refuted these assertions as “flimsy excuses.”
The immunisation crew would return to the homes in a further effort to convince them to comply, he promised.
The vaccination exercise, backed by the Sokoto State government, UNICEF, and other development partners, targets full immunisation coverage, especially in areas previously identified with low compliance rates.
Lagaza reported significant progress in the exercise, noting high turnout in communities like Gwiwa Bela and Gwiwa Tungar Dole. He said teams are now covering areas including Gwiwa Gurgawo and Gwiwa Garkar Lagaza, urging continued community support.
He also advised parents to prioritise their children’s health by ensuring they receive the polio vaccine and by accessing other vital health services at designated centres.
The immunisation campaign ran from April 26 to April 29.
