Church of God woman refuses to immunise child

A woman yesterday ignored a Nyahururu court order to take her sick child to hospital citing her religious beliefs. Margaret Nduta, a Church of God faithful, said the church bans the use of modern medicine. Probation officer Pauline Njoroge waqs forced to seek the court's intervention when the woman ignored her directive.

“Your honour my faith does not allow me to enter a hospital and after all, my child is not sick. I request that I be allowed to go home as I am not ready to go against my faith,” Nduta told Magistrate Vincent Kiptoon. Njoroge contested the claim saying the child’s health has been deteriorating since May when she received the last immunisation injection at their home at Gathanji Village.

“Her incessant preaching against conventional medicine and treatment could have a negative impact on breastfeeding mothers that immunisation is not safe since her child’s health deteriorated after she received the jabs,” Njoroge said. The Magistrate warned Nduta that she risked being punished for going against the government campaign to wipe out child mortality through immunisation to curb polio, pneumonia and measles. Nduta's husband is serving a two-year term for not seeking medical treatment for his children.