Dodoma — RANDOM authorization and issuance of yellow fever certificates has come to the attention of the government, which has launched investigation to nab perpetrators.

The document, usually issued to travellers visiting foreign countries after being administered with vaccination against yellow fever, is reportedly being issued indiscriminately at Mnazi Mmoja and at the airport in Dar es Salaam, with bribes in return for the illegal service.

The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Suleiman Rashid, informed legislators in Dodoma that those seeking shortcuts risked health complications, and both legal and disciplinary measures would be taken against those issuing certificates.

The deputy minister was responding to a question by Haji Khatibu Kai, (MP - Micheweni - CUF) who demanded clarification on the purpose of yellow fever vaccination for travellers and the need for the government to hire and deploy more health officers at Horohoro Border Post in Tanga Region, where some of the travellers cross the border without being examined. There are only two officers in the area.

"Issuance of yellow fever certificates is uncalled-for and cannot be tolerated. The society should refuse to run unnecessary risks because travelling out of the country without vaccination is dangerous to the traveller, who could contract the disease and spread it to others back home," Dr Rashid explained.