Kaduna— Dr. Mustapha Jumare, Chairman, Kaduna State Action Committee on Immunisation, SACI, has expressed concern over rejection of polio vaccine in some parts of the state.

Jumare said this in Zaria, yesterday, shortly after traditional and religious leaders from the affected communities visited the Emir of Zazzau, Dr. Shehu Idris, in his palace.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the affected communities were Hayin-Marmara and Unguwan-Lalle in Giwa Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that such attitude was detrimental to the success of the exercise not only in the state but in the country as a whole.

The chairman appealed to religious, traditional and community leaders to redouble efforts in ensuring total eradication of the dreaded disease for the healthy growth of the young generation.

Jumare recalled that from January to date about 43 children were found with traces of the disease in Nigeria as against four recorded last year.

He said, “Of the total number, about 80 per cent of those affected are from the North-West zone, but we thank God Kaduna State is the only state not affected.”

Earlier, the emir told leaders of the affected communities to go back and advice their people on the need to allow health officials to administer the vaccine on their children.

He recalled that when fertiliser was first introduced the officials faced similar rejection problem, but later people came to realise its importance after series of sensitisation.

The leaders informed the emir that the rejection was to protest the refusal to install transformers in their areas, adding that “the problem had already been solved”.