The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reinforced its dedication to enforcing compulsory child immunisation across all public and private schools within Abuja. This move aims to safeguard children’s health by ensuring vaccination compliance before school enrollment or transfer.
During a recent meeting at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), Dolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment Secretariat, reiterated the administration’s strict policy requiring all educational institutions to verify students’ immunisation status prior to admission, re-admission, or transfer.
Fasawe warned that schools failing to adhere to this directive would face sanctions under existing public health and education laws. This enforcement is anchored in the Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2003, which guarantees every child the right to full immunisation coverage.
“Denying children access to vaccines is not merely an administrative oversight; it violates their fundamental rights. Sections 13 and 14 of the CRA place the onus on parents, guardians, and educational institutions to shield children from preventable diseases,” Fasawe stressed.
This directive follows reports that some schools have hindered vaccination teams during the ongoing Measles-Rubella immunisation campaign, thereby putting many children at risk by delaying essential vaccinations.
She praised the collaborative efforts between the FCTA, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and various development partners for their vital role in advancing the immunisation drive.
Launched on October 8 and extended by an additional week, the campaign targets multiple diseases: measles-rubella for children aged nine months to 14 years, polio for infants up to 59 months, HPV for nine-year-old girls, and routine immunisations for children from birth to 23 months. The initiative also includes vaccines against neglected tropical diseases and malaria.
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Fasawe emphasized that schools obstructing vaccination efforts not only deny children critical health protection but also disrupt the overall immunisation schedule. “Non-compliance undermines public health programs and leaves children vulnerable to preventable illnesses,” she added.
To ensure full compliance, the FCTA has instructed schools to:
- Verify immunisation documentation during student admissions, re-admissions, and transfers;
- Keep an updated Child Health Register;
- Collaborate with local Primary Health Care Centres to facilitate on-site vaccination;
- Raise immunisation awareness during school assemblies and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings;
- Submit monthly compliance reports to the Health Secretariat via the Education Secretariat.
Furthermore, the FCTA plans to deploy 132 vaccination teams for a three-day mop-up campaign aimed at reaching children who missed previous vaccination rounds. Schools that fail to comply will face administrative penalties under FCT education and public health regulations.
“Guaranteeing every child receives complete immunisation is not optional-it is a legal obligation and a fundamental child right,” Fasawe concluded, urging parents and school authorities to actively participate in supporting the vaccination campaign.