Posted on: Mon 22-06-2020

The African Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for the eradication of Poliomyelitis, is an independent advisory body of the World Health Organization (WHO), mandated to verify and certify the eradication of polio virus in the African region. 

On August 21st, 2019 Nigeria attained three years without the detection of a sing case of the Wild Polio Virus (WPV). However, in order to ascertain the accuracy of the documents presented by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the ARCC team embarked on a verification visit to the country, which was done in two phases; first to the southern states and then the northern states. 

During the 25th meeting of the ARCC which held virtually, from Monday 15th June to Thursday 18th June 2020, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and partners, defended its documentation and demonstrated evidence of being polio free.

Following the 3-day meeting, Nigeria's documentation towards its Wild Polio Virus (WPV)-free status was accepted by the ARCC on the 18th day of June 2020. 

The credence of the polio-eradication documentation by WHO is certainly an acknowledgement of outstanding work done in the fight against polio. In addition, the attendant surveillance of the entire country which showed zero presence of WPV is thorough, remarkable and indeed commendable.

Through the collective dedication and hard work of all stakeholders involved, led by the Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), donors and Development Partners, Nigeria has finally arrived the point where it breasted the tape and was declared polio free. 

According to WHO statistics, Nigeria, in as recent as 2012, accounted for half of the number of polio cases in the whole world. This ugly background and the bleak future it represented, constituted a huge challenge and served as a wake-up call.

Consequently, it prompted the enormous effort and quality of work that went into the polio eradication initiative, which all Nigerians deserve commendation for. 

The leadership provided by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, stood out in the fight to end the menace, which for decades ravaged our people. 

The uncommon commitment of Mr. President has seen Nigeria through the woods and is mainly responsible for the quantum leap and the rare achievement we are celebrating today. 

We salute the leadership and entire distinguished members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for the support we continued to receive every step of the way.

Worthy of note is the duo of the hardworking Ministers of Health at this time. We would want to appreciate Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Honourable Minister of Health and Dr. Olorunmimbe Mamora, the Honourable Minister of State for Health, for their professional guidance and fatherly counsel. 

Our sincere gratitude goes to our indefatigable donors and development partners including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Rotary International, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USAID, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), European Union, Global Health Canada, German Development Bank (KfW), WHO, UNICEF, Nigeria Governor's Forum, Polio Survivors Group, the media, Faith-based and other non-governmental organizations, who remained with us through thick and thin. They deserve huge commendations for their untiring support.

We are confident in the quality of the work we continue to do with members of the traditional and religious leaders' committees. We especially congratulate His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Alh. (Dr) Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar CFR, mni, in this hour of our shared glory. 

Our polio teams and all the other frontline healthcare workers in all the States, Local Governments and Communities take a huge credit for this incredible feat. As the real foot soldiers of this war, we commend and congratulate them all.

This landmark achievement is for those who fought, but ultimately laid down their lives in the course of duty. The survivors, the polio victims, together with their families are the real polio heroes of our time. 

We acknowledge the tremendous support of the media, as we worked closely in the frontline for three decades, for the sake of the Nigerian Child.

We cannot afford not to mention the Generals in this war, the EOC team, the Board, Management and Staff of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for their dedication and all the unparalleled work for the last three decades. 

On behalf of Nigerians, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the many champions who paved the way for this journey and provided the shoulders for us to stand on. They include the past Presidents, members of the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication (PTFoPE), Ministers, Executive Director/CEOs of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Programme on Immunization (NPI), other leaders in the public health space and several other actors.

This is indeed a culmination of our sacrifices and dedication to the polio eradication cause. We thank you all as we look forward to using the polio structures and experiences towards eradicating COVID-19 and the remaining vaccine preventable diseases.

Signed:

Dr. Faisal Shuaib 

Executive Director/CEO

National Primary Healthcare Development Agency 

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