The Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Rilwanu Mohammed, has urged the people of Dakwa Community in Bwari Area Council, to allow their children to be immunised against polio virus.

He made the call on Saturday at the inauguration of Immunisation Plus Day (IPD) in Dakwa community, Bwari Area Council.

He recalled that the people of the area had previously rejected immunisation of their children.

"Up till date, there are still some families who did not want their children to be immunised," he said.

Mr. Mohammed said that the vaccinators would go from house-to-house and visit places like churches and mosque to administer the vaccine on children from zero to five years.

"We had issue with this community before on non-compliance; about 35 people refused their children from being immunised.

"Immunisation is the only preventive measure against polio; the vaccine is safe and there is no over dose; a child can take it more

than three times and nothing will happen to the child," he said.

Mr. Mohammed advised the people to stay clean in order not contact and transmit infectious diseases. He said that the board would soon commence enlightenment campaign against yellow fever and measles. He aid that children would be vaccinated against these diseases.

In his remark, the Deputy Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Abubakar Matawalin, pledged the commitment of the council to curtail the spread of polio in the area. He advised mothers to present their children for immunisation, saying "prevention is better than treatment".

Mr. Matawalin stressed the need to enlighten the people on the importance of immunisation, adding that some people reject immunisation out of ignorance.

An official of the World Health Organisation, Williams Komachwe, who spoke on behalf of partners like UNICEF, pledge their commitment to eradicate polio from Nigeria.

(NAN)