MEMBERS of Parliament have advised government through the Ministry and Child Care (MoHCC) to invoke provisions for the laws that allow for the punishment of every parent who refuses to have their child immunized against measles.
By Staff Reporter
The call comes in the wake of a raging measles outbreak which has already claimed more than 150 children according to the past update that was made by Cabinet. Most the affected children are those from apostolic sects where vaccination for children is discouraged.
Making a recommendation in Parliament, Norton Legislator, Honorable Themba Mliswa said the right to life must be respected especially that if children who are incapacitated and not able to make their own decisions.
My point of recommendation to the Hon. Minister is that, can there be a public announcement through the national radio, television, et cetera when such an exercise is being done to make people aware and help officers including departmental heads in various districts to disseminate that information that every child is supposed to be vaccinated.
“It was the same again with COVID; other parents did not want to do that. We also talk about the very same constitutional provision of the right to life; that failure to do so, those parents will certainly face the full wrath of the law. So that is where you can get people to survive with you being very strong with them in terms of the law,” said Hon Mliswa.
He added that people were dying recommended that massive awareness raising campaigns should be held to encourage vaccination.
Mashonaland West Proportional Representative Member of Parliament, Josephine Shava said, “I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health and Child Care but during his absence, I will direct it to the Leader of the House. What is Government policy on the measles outbreak for those parents who did not take their children for vaccination? What is Government planning regarding such children because they are dying.
“My supplementary question Madam Speaker Ma’am is; there are places where we know some infants are dying, getting buried and some are sick. I would give an example but I saw my Minister in this House. There is need for research in that area where you find people claiming that they were bewitched. Another child died last night as I am speaking.”
In response, acting Health and Child Care Minister, Professor Amon Murwira said, “Government policy is that every child should be vaccinated against communicable diseases. As I am speaking, the Local Government, Civil Protection Unit and even the Ministry of Health and Child Care are working hard to disseminate information regarding the vaccination of children. The vaccination programme has been escalated and even yesterday in Cabinet, there was an agreement that every child should be vaccinated against these diseases.”
