• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Battle against polio virus not over for Nigeria, Africa, minister warns

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Osagie Ehanire, minister of health has said the battle against the wild poliovirus is not yet over for Nigeria and all other countries in Africa, warning that the region is still at risk of importing the virus from Asia.

Nigeria and Africa were on Tuesday, 25th August certified polio-free by WHO, but, the minister said as long as the poliovirus is still active in the Asian region and the menace of the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus remains in the continent, the region may record a resurgence of the virus.

To address the concerns of cross border infection, the minister assured of strong collaboration among health care workers across borders and the synchronisation of Immunization activities to address the concerns.

The minister said the surveillance system of countries must also remain sensitive and up to the certification standard.

“In the course of all of this, we must, however, be reminded that we are not resting on our oars, because polio is not yet over for the African continent”, he said.

The minister added that the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) will continue to be active, to respond promptly to any emerging disease outbreak. He said the Federal Government, through National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has mapped out various polio assets across the country and started deploying them for the purpose of other disease interventions.

“I urge State Governors to support this effort and begin to implement the transition of the experienced polio human resources for Health, to other areas of the health sector, especially at Primary care level.

“This new era can be the rallying point for progress and development of Health on the African continent and our country. This is my message for you today” Ehanire said.

Ehanire explained that the reason why the struggle against polio took this long was the location the virus chose as its last refuge in Nigeria; the war-torn North East, where insecurity made access to health workers a risky venture that cost several public Health vaccinators their lives.

“Routine health care and infrastructure had collapsed and along with them, all immunization efforts. The dilemma being how to reach the unreachable, the President graciously ordered the engagement of the Armed Forces in the war against polio, a critical and unique partnership, which has generated global interest”, he said.

The minister paid tribute to Health workers who paid with their lives, and others barely got away with various degrees of injuries, some ending in permanent disability, saying that they are the true heroes of the war against the disease.

The minister applauded all development Partners, sponsors, donors to support the fight to include; the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other UN Agencies, the Rotary International, Dangote Foundation, GAVI, BMGF and all other driving forces behind the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Faisal Shuaib, ED/CEO, NPHCDA. assured that the government will continue to build a population immunity against wild poliovirus.

Shuaib noted that Immunization coverage more than doubled since 2016, from a little over 30% to over 70%, while assuring that the tempo will be sustained.

He informed the agency will provide an updated list of those who died due to the poliovirus which will be available electronically and physically, as a way of honouring them.