By Sarah NEGEDU
Pupils seeking admission into nursery and primary schools in Abuja may soon be required to present proof of immunisation, as the Federal Capital Territory Administration hints of plans to introduce a compulsory immunisation verification policy for school admissions.
Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who announced the plan during a press briefing on Thursday, said the move was part of efforts to ensure compliance with vaccination laws under the Child Rights Act.
She explained that the measure, which will be implemented in collaboration with the Education Secretariat, will further strengthen protection against preventable diseases among children.
According to her, when implemented, the policy will make it mandatory for schools to verify the immunisation status of every pupil before admission, re-admission or transfer.
In her words, “the FCT Administration has approved mandatory immunization verification during admission, re-admission, or transfer; maintenance of a Child Health Register in every school; collaboration with nearby Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) for on-site immunization sessions; regular inclusion of immunization awareness in school assemblies and PTA meetings; and submission of monthly compliance reports through the Education Secretariat to HSES.”
Dr Fasawe likened the proposed verification system to international vaccination protocols, saying the Administration aims to ensure no child gains school admission without an immunisation card. “Like the yellow card where migrants can’t gain entry into some countries, the administration hopes to ensure no child gains admission without immunisation cards,” she said.
She said the move became necessary after several schools, including some in high-income areas, refused access to vaccination teams during the ongoing Measles-Rubella campaign. “It has come to our attention that several schools and institutions within the FCT refused access to vaccination teams. This non-compliance not only denied eligible children protection against measles and rubella but also disrupted the daily implementation plans of the campaign,” she stated.
Dr Fasawe stressed that immunisation is a legal and moral obligation, noting that the Child Rights Act guarantees every child the right to health and protection from preventable diseases. “The Child Rights Act, CRA, of 2003, as domesticated in the FCT, guarantees every child the right to health and protection from preventable diseases. Specifically, Sections 13 and 14 of the Act place a legal obligation on parents, guardians, and institutions — including schools — to ensure that every child is fully immunized.
“Denying a child access to vaccination is, therefore, not merely an administrative lapse; it is a violation of a fundamental child right,” she said.
She disclosed that the Secretariat has compiled a list of non-compliant schools and would continue advocacy to secure their cooperation. “If after several attempts at advocacy they still refuse, we will have to use the law,” she said.
The Mandate Secretary added that failure to comply with the new directives “will attract administrative sanctions under existing FCT Education and Public Health Regulations.”
She therefore appealed to parents and guardians to cooperate with vaccination teams stressing that, “Immunization saves lives. It is a collective responsibility, a legal duty, and a moral imperative. Together, we can ensure that no child in the Federal Capital Territory is denied protection from preventable diseases,” she said.
