Orissa homeopath refuses polio drops for grand-children
Apr 18, 2008 - 5:59:18 PM
The state has detected at least three cases of polio in past five years. Last month, two-year-old daughter of a migrant labourer was detected with polio.
By IANS, [RxPG]
Kendrapada -, April 18 - A homeopathy doctor in Orissa has refused to administer polio drops to his grand-children even after repeated requests by state officials.
As part of the mass immunization program, a team of health officials visited the house of Nityananda Sahoo, a resident of Ichapur village near Kendrapada town, 150 km from Bhubaneswar, to immunize his two grandsons aged three and four years.
'But he refused. He did not allow us to immunize his grand-children,' an official, who was a member of the team, said.
The authorities restarted the polio immunization program in this coastal district last week after a child was detected with the disease recently.
'I treat my grand-children properly through homeopathic medicines. Polio doses are not necessary for my grand-children,' Sahoo told IANS.
'I have told the health officials umpteen times that my grand-children do not need polio drops but they are forcing us,' he said.
District Collector Kashinath Sahoo said, 'Several doctors have visited his home and requested him to allow the children to be administered the drops, but he refused.'
'I also personally went his house Thursday and warned him that it could spell trouble for his grand-children but he was not ready to accept that,' he said.
'We have already immunized all children in the district except the doctor's grand-children,' he added.
The state has detected at least three cases of polio in past five years. Last month, two-year-old daughter of a migrant labourer was detected with polio.
Earlier, polio cases were reported in 2003 and 2007.
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