Monday, 9 September 2013

Anti-Polio Vaccine Campaigners Face 10 Years in Jail

Children with Poliomyelitis

Clerics who preach against the administration of the oral vaccine against the polio virus in Niger state risk 10 year jail term or N100,000 fine, the state commissioner for Justice, Abdullahi Bawa Wuse has said.
 
This is contained in the state's amended Healthcare Development Agency law, he said yesterday at a post executive council media briefing in Minna.
 
He said the amended law provide for six months imprisonment or N50,000 fine for anyone who disallowed his ward from being immunized.
 
"Government has amended the Niger State Health Care Development Agency law to provide for 10 years jail term or N100,000 fine for any cleric found guilty of preaching against the immunization of children in the state," he said.
 
He further said, check points will be established at strategic locations in the 25 local government areas of the state with a view to giving instant immunization to any child coming into the state from the neighboring states, whether or not they have been vaccinated from their states of origin.
 
The Commissioner said the chief Judge will be directed to designate a mobile Magistrate court in all of the 25 local governments for instant trial for those found violating the amended law.
 
BY ALIYU M. HAMAGAM
Dailytrust

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