Nigeria celebrates 25 months of Polio free cases – NPHCDA

The Executive Secretary of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mr. Faisal Shuaib, has disclosed that Nigeria has gone over 25 months without a single case of polio.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the 3rd meeting of Expert Review Committee ERC on Polio Routine Immunisation in Nigeria to deliberate on the need to sustain the routine immunisation in the country, Shuaib noted that Nigeria is very close to polio eradication.

He said, “I will say that for the very first time in our lives we are very, very close to polio eradication. We have gone over 25 months now with very strong surveillance showing clearly that we are not missing one polio-virus case.

“If this positive result continues in the next eleven months and if we have access to those obscure areas such as Yobe State and some parts in the South-East, then it’s very likely that the certification organisation institution will review the progress that Nigeria has made and very likely they will certify us polio-free.

“It actually true that if we are going to achieve polio eradication and sustained population immunity against polio-virus and other preventable diseases, we have to do a better job of providing all vaccines to all children in Nigeria”.

Shuaib identified inability by mothers and caregivers bringing their kids to health facilities for routine immunisation as part of the greatest challenge confronting the country.

He urged parents to always bring their children for immunisation.

“We need all parents to bring their children for them to have a full dose. On the part of government, we have gone the extra mile by providing a well trained and equipped mobile team, health workers across the 36 states to deliver the services.

“In the cause of the last few months, we are beginning to see gradual improvement in our routine immunisation coverage”, Shaiub added.

The NPHCDA boss, however, promised that the Federal Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure every child in Nigeria is free of polio.

Earlier, Chairman, Expert Review Committee (ERC), Prof. Tomori Oyewole, pledged the commitment of the committee to work hard for the prioritisation the fight against polio to ensure complete eradication.

“Mobile health workers, Traditional and religious leaders as well as polio survivors in immunisation campaigns should ensure the continuation of high levels of vaccine coverage to keep the virus at bay,” he added.