Abia State Ministry Of Health Arrests Two For Illegal Immunisation
Two persons suspected to be involved in illegal immunisation of schoolchildren in Owerrinta, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State have been apprehended by officials of the state Ministry of Health.
The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. John Ahukanna, who disclosed this to journalists in Umuahia, the state capital, said the two suspects were handed over to the Abia State Police Command for investigation and prosecution. He said the suspects were alleged to be immunising the children against hepatitis B at a fee of N1000 per child.
“The crime will be investigated properly and if the suspects are found guilty, they will be prosecuted,” he said.
Ahukanna revealed that the suspects were not authorised to engage in any kind of immunisation, saying only the state Ministry of Health had the power to do so.
He added, “We do not have any state immunisation campaign going on at the moment. We have gotten samples of the vaccines used by the suspects for proper confirmation because their offence is a crime against the state.”
The health commissioner also disclosed that the state did not have any recorded index case of Lassa fever, despite the apprehension amongst people in the state.
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu | PUNCH.
