NMA Warns Nigerians Not To Politicise Health Issues

Medical Practitioners in Edo State appealed to Nigerians not to politicise health issues in view of its attendant effect on the populace.

The Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association, Edo Chapter, Emmanuel Osaigbovo, made the appeal on Tuesday while speaking at the 2017 Physicians’ Week in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Osaigbovo decried the effect of the rumours making the rounds on the social media that the military are allegedly infecting people with diseases in the guise of immunisation.

He said, “Immunisation is not something bad, it’s actually good. Please, we should not politicise immunisation, because immunisation helps us to prevent childhood illnesses, for instance like polio, diphtheria, measles."

Adding that, "So, if they now bring politics into it, it’s going to affect our health indices. Our childhood mortality rate is very high, Nigeria is one of the worst in the world.”

The rumour mills especially the social media platforms have been awash with stories of some sinister plans allegedly by the military to infect children with diseases through immunisation.

UCJ, UNILORIN.