… Targets 2. 6 M children in FCT
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
In a bid to fight cases of non- compliance with vaccination of children in the territory , the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has warned against the act of denying .children the ongoing measles rubella vaccination.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, during a press briefing issued the warning on Thursday in Abuja.
According to her,
schools and caregivers were preventing vaccinators from entering schools to immunize children. In their custody; therefore, there is a need to intensify education and sensitization on the benefits and rights of vaccinating children.
She raised concerns about some schools that had hindered the ongoing Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, describing such actions as detrimental to public health gains.
Fasawe said, “Under the proposed new Health and Education Regulatory Policy, all schools are required to maintain a Child Health Register, partner with nearby Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) for on-site vaccination, and submit monthly compliance reports to the relevant authorities.”
She cautioned that any school found obstructing vaccination activities or failing to comply with the directive would face administrative sanctions under existing regulations.
“Failure to comply will attract administrative sanctions. Every eligible child has a legal and moral right to be immunized, and denying vaccination is a breach of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003,” Fasawe stated.
Providing details on the ongoing vaccination exercise, she disclosed that a recent survey showed that about 1.4 million children have so far been immunized out of the over 2 million targeted in the FCT.
Furthermore, Dr. Fasawe revealed that the administration might be compelled to shut down defaulting schools to ensure that every child between the ages of zero and fourteen years receives the required vaccines at every stage of life.
She said that the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has approved incentives such that every fully immunized child would receive free coverage under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS).
According to her, denying vaccination constitutes a violation of a child’s fundamental rights, and she urged schools to grant vaccination teams unrestricted access during immunization exercises.
She also highlighted the successful collaboration between the FCTA, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and development partners, which facilitated the deployment of 600 vaccination teams across the six area councils.
“To tackle noncompliance, the administration has compiled a list of noncompliant schools, issued formal reminders, conducted community sensitization, and concluded plans for a mop-up exercise involving 132 vaccination teams.”
While commending Stella Maris School, Abuja, for its cooperation, Fasawe urged other schools to emulate such compliance.
“Immunization saves lives. It is a collective responsibility, a legal duty, and a moral imperative. Together, we can ensure no child in the FCT is denied protection from preventable diseases,” she said.
Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, appealed to parents, school heads, and community leaders to support the vaccination campaign, assuring them of the safety and potency of the vaccines.
“These vaccines will not kill our children. We must take ownership of the future of our children and the legacy of this government by ensuring every child is protected,” she stated.
In line with this, NPHCDA Director of Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Rufai Ahmed, condemned the refusal of vaccination, describing it as a dangerous act that threatens public safety.
“In my opinion, it is a crime to deny a child immunization, whether by a parent, teacher, or caregiver,” he warned. “Without vaccines, hospitals will be overwhelmed, and families will face avoidable health crises and financial burdens.”
Ahmed noted that Nigeria has over three decades of experience in vaccine delivery and is currently targeting over 1.6 million children nationwide, including those in the FCT.
He urged parents and guardians to trust scientific evidence and take lessons from the successful eradication of diseases like smallpox.
“Without vaccines our hospitals will be stretched, admissions will increase, and out-of -pocket spending will increase.”
“Vaccination remains one of the most effective public health interventions,” he said. “We owe it to our children to secure their future through full immunization” , he stated.
