Sokoto — Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar 111, has called on parents to allow their children to be immunised against polio, saying the vaccines are safe.

The monarch made the call yesterday at a sensitisation campaign on polio held at Wamakko local government council of Sokoto.

According to him, the call had become necessary for parents to allow their wards to be vaccinated for improved health condition. The Sultan, who was represented by state chairman Northern traditional rulers committee on primary health care, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Umar, maintained that the immunisation has no harmful effect on children.

He further explained that the vaccines are safe contrary to insinuations in some quarters, especially at the grassroots. The monarch reminded traditional rulers in the state on the need to participate actively in the polio sensitisation campaign with a view to curbing the ugly trend.

He also called on the people to give maximum support to the programme in order to achieve the desired objectives. In his remarks, district head of Wamakko local government area, Alhaji Salihu Barade, assured that all the traditional rulers in the area will be mobilised adequately in the fight against the scourge.

Also speaking, UNICEF representative, Hajiya Maryam Umar, highlighted some of the programmes embarked by the agency, particularly on polio eradication. She appealed to the people to avail themselves of the opportunity by allowing their children to be immunised.