Lalong orders closure of schools preventing pupils’ immunisation

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has ordered the closure of any school that denies pupils access to polio immunisation.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, gave the order yesterday while performing the official launch of the European Union Support to Immunisation Governance in Nigeria (EU-SIGN) project in the state held at the Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos.

He said government has received cases of rejection of polio immunisation officers.

Lalong, who commended the EU-SIGN and its partners for their untiring efforts in the fight against polio and the provision of health facilities, assured of government’s continued support towards the realisation of all their programmes.

The team leader of EU-SIGN, Dr. James Attah, commended the Jos government’s commitment to polio immunisation activities, adding that the state is the best in the country.

The Executive Secretary, National Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Uche Uzona, represented by Dr. Garba El-Rufai, head of routine immunisation in the agency, lauded the role of traditional rulers in the state for supporting the exercise.

Plateau State Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Livinus Miapkwap, commended the state government’s release of N30 million for routine immunisation.