Yakubu Musa
11 October 2002
Kano — The National Immunization Programme against Polio may have failed in Kano State as the people were preventing the vaccination of their children on the suspecion that it could be a population control measure.
THISDAY checks revealed that the situation has reportedly forced the immunization workers engaged by the Ministry of Health to pour away the liquid content of the drugs to give the impression that they have carried out the job.
THISDAY also gathered that even the elites, who ordinarily were expected to be informed and ready to co-operate with the immunization workers "had turned out to be the worst ."
Many people who spoke to THISDAY in the ancient city, alleged that since it was clear that the western world is against the increase in population in African countries, "they could use vaccines to indirectly check our population."
"What arouses my suspicion about this immunization thing is the desperation of the so called developed countries on it.
"These are the people that we can simple hold responsible for our woes but now helping us to save our children from dying, I think something is amiss somewhere," said Mallam Ado Hamisu, a civil servant.
Speaking further, Hamisu noted that "if the western world is sincere about helping us, let them give us AIDS drugs at affordable price." "Our continent is being ravaged by AIDS and they are not making any tangible effort about it," he added.
Hamisu's view was corroborated by many residents, who even believed that the immunization was a way of introducing more killer diseases to African countries, rather than one of preventing Africans from disease or disability.
First hand checks revealed that majority of the residents have indeed refused to let their children get the free immunization
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