Disturbing issues on the public health front in Africa

Nigerian Muslims Skeptical of Polio Plan: Certainly an individual is within his basic human rights to refuse immunisation for himself or his children. But when it comes to eradicating disease, these decisions put others at risk. Think of all those American mothers who, out of mistrust for the varicella vaccine, held 'chicken pox' parties--never mind that the disease has far more complications than the vaccine and can be deadly--especially for adults who have never had it. But in turn, I think it's fair for the state to say, fine, but if you want to go to school, enter the workplace, or even travel from place to place, you need to show proof of immunisation. Period. If the leaders of an area use fear and rumours to encourage people not to take life-saving vaccines, then they must deal with the problem of an populace susceptible to disease and unable to carry out the very things that will help their economic and political stability--and be liable for the resulting paralysis and deaths that occur. That seems fair. Some may choose to travel to another state to receive the medicine. Many, of course, will not be able to. But so long as there are those who can provide it without government interference, the choice is in the hand of the individual. If the government does interfere, I think the national government of Nigeria--which is already dealing with issues related to the recent move towards conservative Islam in the north such as the well-publicised adultery trials, with their sentences of stoning--may find ways to sanction the north for the greater good of Nigerians.

Our own government does this as well. Don't want to reduce your speed limit? Fine. But don't expect federal money. That sort of thing. There are ways to influence policy without directly opposing it or punish people directly just because their leaders would rather use religion for their own agenda.

I hope there is better cooperation in the attempt to eradicate polio and other diseases. Although I recognise the concern (certainly there are many Westerners who don't trust big companies or organisations either), there comes a time when leaders--those presumably with greater education or resources--must decide whether to choose on the side of personal or party power or on the side of the greater good that would have been advocated by any just faith.