Nigeria was the focus of attention at the just concluded 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, where the country was delisted from Polio endemic countries. Paul Obi writes
When the Nigerian delegation that attended the 70th United Nations (UN) General Assembly gathered in downtown Manhattan, New York, United States, the prospects of receiving an applause on the fight against polio virus was not on the table. The attention was more focused on how to formulate the road map for Nigeria in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Then, when the news filtered in that the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan were to address the press on Polio, many were taken aback regarding the focus and shape Chan's speech will take.
But at the conference room of UN headquarters' palatial hall, the signs, the news for all the good reasons started to filter in. And when the WHO DG climped the podium, Nigeria became the epicentre of discussion across the UN. Announcing the delisting of Nigeria from the list of Polio endemic countries, the WHO boss explained that given the enormous efforts by the Nigerian government and show of commitment, the expected result was being unveiled to the approval of stakeholders committed to the course.
She said with these efforts, polio "is no longer endemic in Nigeria." Chan observed that for more than a decade, "this is the first time that Nigeria has interrupted transmission of wild poliovirus, bringing the country and the African region closer than ever to being certified polio-free." In the statement to announce the success and delisting of Nigeria from polio endemic countries, Chan said: "The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the public-private partnership leading the effort to eradicate polio, called this a 'historic achievement' in global health. Nigeria has not reported a case of wild poliovirus since 24 July 2014, and all laboratory data have confirmed a full 12 months have passed without any new cases."
She went on to explain that just in "2012, Nigeria accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide. Since then, a concerted effort by all levels of government, civil society, religious leaders and tens of thousands of dedicated health workers have resulted in Nigeria successfully stopping polio. More than 200,000 volunteers across the country repeatedly immunised more than 45 million children under the age of 5 years, to ensure that no child would suffer from this paralysing disease. Innovative approaches, such as increased community involvement and the establishment of Emergency Operations Centres at the national and state levels, have also been pivotal to Nigeria’s success." Another key support group that contributed immensely in halting the transmission of wild poliovirus in Nigeria have been linked to the commitment of donors and development partners. The assistance and interventions from foreign donors and domestic funding from Nigeria were essential to keep Nigeria and the West African region from new cases of polio. In the view of UN officials, this achievement did not come easy, it was a tortuous journey, indeed.
Records from WHO indicated that the virus which leads to lifelong paralysis, has been halted across the world in the last 25 years. Yet, and according to the WHO, "polio remains endemic in only two countries – Pakistan and Afghanistan. The eradication of polio globally now depends primarily on stopping the disease in these countries. As long as polio exists anywhere, it’s a threat to children everywhere."
Thus, WHO officials opined that "Nigeria has made remarkable progress against polio, but continued vigilance is needed to protect these gains and ensure that polio does not return. Immunisation and surveillance activities must continue to rapidly detect a potential re-introduction or re-emergence of the virus." They contended that preventing and eradicating polio remain a tall order for the world, with new hope that that chapter of the virus will be soon gone. The one year record without any polio case have impacted positively on Nigeria as it "has brought the world one major step closer to achieving this goal and it’s critical that we seize this opportunity to end polio for good and ensure future generations of children are free from this devastating disease," said officials.
According to WHO, "the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF, and supported by key partners including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 1988, the incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99 per cent. At the time, more than 350,000 children were paralysed every year, in more than 125 endemic countries. Today, two countries remain which have never stopped endemic transmission of polio: Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2015, 41 cases of wild poliovirus have been reported worldwide - 32 in Pakistan, nine in Afghanistan."
Speaking in the same vein, Director of the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and Chairman of the Polio Oversight Board, Dr. Tom Frieden explained that “this is a clear example of success under very difficult circumstances. It shows we can eradicate polio if proven strategies are fully implemented." He maintained that "combined with the news of the eradication of type two wild poliovirus last week, we are moving decisively toward ending a disease that has paralyzed tens of millions of children. In this final mile, we must remain committed to providing the resources and the support to the front lines to make this worthy goal a reality.”
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute said the Nigerian government remains committed to the goal of ridding completely any trace of polio in the country. Awute insisted that notwithstanding this noble achievement the government will not be complacent but vigilant.
But for the enthusiastic Executive Director of Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Ado Muhammad said the development would now spur Nigeria to put in more efforts to ensure that the country is completely rid of the disease. Muhammad said: “We Nigerians are proud today. With local innovation and national persistence, we have beaten polio. We know our vigilance and efforts must continue in order to keep Nigeria polio-free.”
On his part, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, observed that political engagement remains an essential component of working towards ending poliovirus. Moeti was of the view that “stopping polio in Nigeria has been a clear example that political engagement, strong partnerships and community engagement are the engines that drive the momentum of public health programmes, enabling them to achieve great things." He added that the combination of resources and efforts, particularly by political, religious and community leaders in Nigeria and across Africa, for reaching a year without cases of wild polio.”
For another front line contributor in the fight against polio, Rotary International President, K. R. Ravindran stated that health workers and state officials were very effective in attaining the current feat. He said: "In the months ahead, their dedication will remain as important as ever, as we work to keep Nigeria polio-free and to eliminate polio from its final strongholds in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Also, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the President, Global Development of the foundation, Chris Elias applauded Nigeria's efforts, stating that, “this is a significant milestone for the global polio eradication effort and the health workers, government and religious leaders and partners should be proud of this accomplishment. While the progress in Nigeria should be celebrated, it is also fragile. It is critical that Nigeria goes two more years without a case of polio which will require the support of partners, increased accountability at all levels of the programme led by President Buhari, and increased domestic funding commitments.” Adding his voice to the achievement, UNICEF Executive Director, Dr Anthony Lake observed that “The removal of Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries is a major victory for Nigeria’s children. It is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Government of Nigeria, local leaders, and front line workers. And it is proof that if we work together in partnership to reach every community and immunise every child, we can finish the job of eradicating this evil disease everywhere, once and for all.”
However, Rui Gama Vaz of WHO cautioned against any form of complacency. Gama Vaz added that "it's clear that this is only a milestone, that requires from all of us to double our efforts towards eradication." Critically, the coming days, weeks, months and year promise to be dynamic with so much expectations on whether Nigeria will triumph over polio or not. With so much efforts that have gone in to rewrite history, Nigeria has her hands full to brim to deliver.
What will count most in all these, is what NPHCDA under Muhammad do. What will matter also will be the role of the federal government, particularly, the ministry of health. But that is not all; what state governments like Kano, Katsina and others in the North-east and North-west remain topmost if Nigeria will scale through the hurdle. Nigeria can no longer afford any excuse on why it did not crush polio. Therefore, funding is very key in eradicating polio. Transparency and implementation are also crucial in the move to tame polio and bring the virus to its knees. Because this is a journey of no return, to defeat polio virus squarely. Time, space and action would all define Nigeria’s fate with polio.
Further, the solution to ridding Nigeria of polio lies in the hands of NPHCDA, the ministry and the presidency. Both the failure and success of this battle will be theirs. The choices they make and actions that they take will either make or mar Nigeria’s fight against polio. Beyond the euphoria at the UN headquarters in New York and in Nigeria of being delisted from polio endemic countries, a lot still lies ahead. The snag is that Nigeria was only delisted from the club of endemic polio countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan; the country is still a polio country. What has changed is the removal of 'endemic'. Until then, Nigeria will still be tagged along as a polio country; searching for the solution. The solution is to end polio.
Source: This Day News
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