APA Abuja (Nigeria) Still exploring incentives that would make immunization attractive in the core North of Nigeria, health officials have resorted to giving soaps and candies to attract parents to present their children for immunization against the six deadly child killer diseases, APA learns here.

The yearly immunization exercise which started in Damaturu, capital of Yobe State, North-East, met with brick stone until many parents who had earlier resisted the vaccines to be administered on their wards changed their mind after soaps were being given as gifts.

Similarly, children picked in the streets whose parents refused taking the vaccines were offered sweets and candies.

Miss Hauwa Bukar, an Immunization Officer at Abasha ward in Damaturu said "it is easier getting the children immunized while playing on the streets than at home because of their parents resistance”.

"As we hang this picture of children suffering from the six killer diseases, some parents claimed that, the victims suffered the ailments from the vaccines administered on them,” Hauwa said.

Mallam Kabiru Buba, another official at Sabon Pegi ward said, “despite the resistance, there have been great improvement compared to the last exercise because of the gifts we offered”.

"The greatest challenge is that of inconsistency in the taking of the vaccines by the children. Some parents thought their children were taking too much of the vaccines and fail to present them for subsequent exercises,” Kabiru said.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization office in Yobe, has engaged some Islamic scholars to preach the advantages of immunization to skeptical parents.

The WHO representative in the state, Dr Isa Adamu, said the clerics explain the importance of immunization buttressing their points with relevant verses and teachings from the Islamic perspective.

Some communities also demand for potable water supply as a condition for accepting the immunization.