Posted on: Thu 02-07-2020

We, the members of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) in all the 36 states and the FCT heartily rejoice with all Nigerians on the successful exit from polio endemic countries. The acceptance of Nigeria's polio documentation and the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of Nigeria as a Wild Polio Free Nation on Thursday, 18th June, 2020 is not a small feat. 

This is one huge milestone in our life time that we can never forget! We specially commend Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his dexterity and promptness in attending to matters relating to the health of Nigerians. When it comes to the critical health needs of the citizens, he does not spare the funds. This is the hallmark of a good leader. All through the past five years, Mr. President has consistently demonstrated his love of country and he has shown great compassion to the Nigerian child. Mr. President, your investment in the fight against polio has paid off handsomely!

We must commend you, Mr President, for your foresight in appointing Dr. Faisal Shuaib, an international public health physician with a hand - on experience as the Executive Director/ CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. Dr. Faisal has brought his rich experience at the global level together with his exceeding profile of honesty, discipline and go-getting capacity which have turned the table against the Wild Polio Virus. 

We have been in the trenches with the NPHCDA in this fight for three decades as health personnel but never have we seen anything close to the kind of action and drive NPHCDA staff and management brought to the polio fight in the past few years. Dr. Faisal introduced many ingenuous innovations and uncommon initiatives with highly rewarding outcomes. Nigerians would recall that this same exceptional Nigerian, as leader of the team against Ebola Virus Disease, went all out against the disease and promptly fought it to a standstill. Ebola was defeated by our country in 2014 with the speed that left everyone wondering. He has successfully deployed his skills to end the Wild Polio Virus in Nigeria. We thank you, Mr. President, for putting a square peg in a square hole.

Mr. President sir, we would want to advise that immunization campaigns, Routine immunization activities and other PHC services, particularly those aimed at halting the high level of maternal mortality and child morbidity, should not only be sustained, the tempo of funding should be raised so that Nigeria can keep polio and all other vaccine-preventable diseases out, forever.

Signed:

Alh. Faruk Umar Abubakar

Secretary General/Registrar

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