President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the Federal Goverment will continue to make the right investments as well as improve on its collabo-rations with development partners to ensure that Ni-geria stays polio-free.
Sunday, July 24, marked two years without a case of polio in the country. Experts have described this record a milestone for the polio eradication initiative and a major step towards polio-free certification for Nigeria by 2017.
When Nigeria achieves three years without a case of polio, it will officially be declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to a statement signed by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, President Buhari, who leads the country's Presidential Task Force on polio eradication, marked the feat, saying, "this is a historic moment that has brought Africa and the world the closest it has ever been to eradicating this devastating disease. But our job is not yet done.
"We must protect the gains we have made and stay on course to tackle the challenges that remain in eliminating polio for good." The statement further quotes the president as pledging that the federal government will "continue to provide the needed oversight and resources to achieve polio eradication by 2017." Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, as sured that the federal, government is committed to building resilience by "getting people out of their comfort zones to further enhance the quality of polio campaigns, reach children in difficult areas and continue to improve
routine immunisation."
The NPHCDA boss equally affirmed that efforts are ongoing to close the remaining surveillance gaps in the programme, including "increasing environmental surveillance sites and community informants across the country"
Meanwhwile, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners leading the effort to eradicate polio, have applauded the commitment of many people, including Nigerian officials at all levels, the United Nations and NGO partners, health workers, traditional, community leaders and volunteers from all sections of the country in keeping polio out of Nigeria for the past two years.
Dr Rex Mapazanje, the Acting World Health. Organisation Represen-tative of Nigeria said national laboratories in Nigeria have been vigilant in monitoring for polio cases.
"We must continue to be on alert for any sign of the virus through heightened surveillance, particularly in the vulnerable populations including insurgencyhit areas of North-East Nigeria and the adjoining areas of Cameroon, Chadand Niger," Mpazanje added.
By: Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
Daily Sun News
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