According to the head of the Health Department in Viana, Pulquéria Marta, the campaign in that municipality encountered some constraints, stressing that these churches in the districts of Zango, Vila Flor and Kikuxi refused to allow children to be vaccinated.
Pulquéria Marta, who spoke to Rádio Nacional de Angola, pointed to the Kimbango Church in the Kikuxi district, Simão Toco in the Vila Flor district, and the Evangelical Apostolic Church in the Zango district.
The official also reported the case of a family with 12 children who refused to allow their children to be vaccinated in Zango.
"He [the father] claims that he should not vaccinate because God is the one who heals and he does not vaccinate his children or go to any health unit", said Pulquéria Marta, stressing that the local administration is already aware of the situation and measures will be taken.
The head of the Health Department in Viana stressed that they are raising awareness among these people so that minors can be vaccinated.
Despite this difficulty, provisional data indicate that the number of children vaccinated exceeded the forecast, and that catch-up work will continue on Monday to reach those who were left out.
"Viana had a target of vaccinating 359,605 children, and as of yesterday [Sunday] Viana had vaccinated 374,112 children", said the doctor, stressing that this Monday the mobile teams will continue to vaccinate, as well as the municipal health department's post.
The Ministry of Health carried out a vaccination campaign, which began Friday and ended Sunday, against polio, with the expectation of vaccinating more than 5.5 million children under the age of five throughout the country.
In the capital, Luanda, 1.5 million children were expected to be immunized.
Polio is an infectious disease caused by the polio virus and can cause permanent paralysis in children.
