Sects lock health officials out in polio vaccination drive

A police officer and a public health official knock on the door of a house in Watumbori, Kisumu County, Tuesday. The owner locked herself and her children inside to prevent them from being immunised.  [PHOTO:MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD]

By LEONARD KULEI, NAFTAL MAKORI and HEZRON OCHIEL

Health workers administering the polio vaccine faced fierce resistance Tuesday from more than 30 families who subscribe to a sect that does not believe in modern medicine.

Armed with machetes, stones and other crude weapons, villagers from Piavi-Subukia in Njoro, Nakuru County, protested against the vaccination, hurling insults at journalists and health workers as they locked their children in the houses. The villagers are said to be members of a sect called Church of God.

John Kinyanjui, a father of nine who has chased away health officials thrice, stood at the entrance to his house wielding a panga and threatening to kill anyone who dared immunise his children.

“My children have never taken any medicinal drugs. Take back that poison you call medicine to where you came from. Jesus whom I serve never took any drug and he never fell sick,” warned Kimani as he admonished the health officials.

Ironically, as Kinyanjui rebuked the health workers, his polio-stricken, ten-year-old daughter sat immobile under a tree outside their two mud houses. It took the intervention of police officers from the Njoro AP camp for the health officers to forcefully administer the medication.

Mandatory innoculation

AP officers had to wrestle down a fierce and hostile Kinyanjui to enable the health officials administer the polio vaccine drops to his children as outraged neighbours who subscribe to the religion gathered in groups.

In the nearby Piavi village, more than 20 children aged below 10 were huddled inside houses the whole day to prevent them from getting vaccinated. A church elder, identified as Mwangi Kiuna, attempted to assault the medical team. The police bundled him into a stand-by car.

“You are worldly people out to tarnish the hearts of our children. You are evil and your drugs are witchcraft,” he shouted amid fist fights.

Several women were filled with tears as their children received the mandatory polio and vitamin A drops.

“Why do you come here and start poisoning my children? I accept that I was vaccinated too but that was because my parents were not saved. I have forgiven them and moved on, though,” said Anne Wanjiku as she grabbed her eight-month old daughter from a medical officer.Ten sickly children were forcefully taken to Njoro District Hospital after the exercise. The children were suffering from various diseases ranging from malnutrition, skin infections and body injuries.

In Nyanza, the immunisation campaign in parts of Kisumu and Nyamira counties were faced by resistance, forcing the police to intervene. Four people were arrested as health officials forced their way into areas where children were hidden.

In Nyando, a section of a cult calling itself Yesu Ma Kende shielded children from receiving the mediction, saying it is against their doctrine. It took the intervention of Ministry of Health officials and the police to conduct a crackdown in two villages to arrest the sect members.

At Watumbori village, Beatrice Adhiambo, a 39-year-old cult member, threatened to unleash “calamity” should the officers forcefully immunise her children.

 Strange diseases

‘‘You are my enemies and are looking for trouble; you are going against my faith. I have always tried to explain to you my case, but you don’t listen. I made a vow with my Lord that I will never accept immunisation, lest disaster befalls me,’’ she said.

Cult members argue that immunisation will expose their children to strange diseases. They claimed that their source of medication is spiritual nourishment.

‘‘One of my children who was immunised five years ago has constantly struggled with sicknesses. But my three-year-old younger child has never gone through the process and he has never fallen ill,’’ argued Adhiambo.

‘‘The cult makes polio even much complex. A single child can infect about 200 healthy children in the village,’’ said Anne Odhiambo, a health officer in Nyando Sub County.

Last year, 14 new polio cases were reported, prompting the Health ministry to conduct a nationwide campaign targeting children below five.

In Nyamira, a couple was arrested for refusing to have their six-month-old son immunised.

The couple, members of a Dini ya Yesu church from Nyamusi area, said they believe it is only God who has powers to heal humankind. Followers of the church believe the sick should not seek treatment from hospitals.

County Deputy Public Health Officer John Kimani said the couple had threatened to harm the health workers if they insisted on immunising their child.

The couple was later taken to Nyamira police station but still did not cede ground. They said their faith does not allow for any medical treatment arguing. Health officials established that the six-month old child was born at home and has never been immunised. Kimani said they are seeking a court order to have the child immunised. He said the couple would be prosecuted.

According to Anne Kendagor, the national anti-polio co-ordinator, polio is one of the most dreaded tropical diseases. It is the leading cause of paralysis in the Sub-Saharan region. “Every child below five years should receive the vaccine. No excuse, not even religion, should deter the exercise,” said Kendagor.

The vaccination campaign ends today.