Immunisation: Council warns against diversion of vaccines

Immunisation: Council warns against diversion of vaccines
NAN-H-21
Vaccines
By Awayi Kuje
Nasarawa Eggon (Nasarawa State), Jan. 25, 2018 (NAN) The Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Council of Nasarawa State has threatened to sack any health worker who engages in unethical practices.
Mr Haruna Kuje, the council’s Director of Primary Health Care (PHC), issued the treat on Thursday during a meeting with proprietors of private health facilities and focal health persons in the area.
He warned that any health worker found diverting vaccines would be sanctioned.
Kuje said that the meeting was aimed at brainstorming on how to improve the health of the people, adding that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.
“Any focal person who is not doing up to expectation effectively will be removed and we will also fish out any health personnel that comprise standard.
“It is unethical, unacceptable and condemnable in health profession to divert unused vaccine vibes by vaccinators.
“The council will not condone or spare anybody involved in such practices and other negative health practices.
The director said that the council would deal with quackery, illegal establishment of private health facilities and generation of erroneous data.
According to him, such sharp activities had affected the health of many citizens negatively.
“We appreciate and acknowledge the contribution of the private health establishments in this area, but the right things must be done in order to sanitise the system as well as save human lives.
“The act of quackery, illegal establishment of private health facilities and generation of erroneous data for policy making has become a serious concern to us, in which all hands must be on deck in order to stop the menace.
“Where you don’t have facilities and trained qualified personnel, we will not allow such to happen because it will affect the health of our people negatively,” he said.
Kuje called on the proprietors of private health facilities and health workers to continue to embark on health education of their host communities to promote healthy lives.
He commended the state government through the ministry of health for initiating sound health policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of the people.
The director restated the council’s commitment to initiate more good health policies in order to save human lives and called on the public to report any quack medical practitioner to the council for appropriate action.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some proprietors of private health facilities at the meeting identified lack of manpower as major factor responsible for their non-participation in routine immunisation exercise. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola