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| vanguardngr.com |
It is no longer news
that the country is celebrating a year without a case of polio, Donors and Agencies
are celebrating. We cannot but also give credibility to community health workers
and village health workers, these health workers at local level are known for
their house-hold visitations and are responsible for the massive awareness
creation and general acceptance of polio vaccine. Recall that nine health
workers were killed while vaccinating children against polio in 2013. It’s also
noteworthy to commend the efforts of community leaders and religious leaders.
At the local level,
health workers, often drawn from the communities they serve, have partnered
with polio survivors and religious leaders to help parents understand the
importance of the vaccine for their children.
Even though Nigeria is
long due for this breakthrough, it is worth the celebration.
However, we are not to
be carried away by this achievement but to long for more. Need I mention that
the country must go an additional two years without a case to be certified
polio-free? Nigeria is the only country in Africa that is not polio free and along
with only Pakistan and Afghanistan where the wild poliovirus has never been
stopped.
We should see this
development as an indicator telling our country that polio can be eradicated in
no time just as we did Guinea worm. I know that President Buhari’s priority
right now is to restore stability and peace in the North East, but I seriously
advise Mr President to take this up so that the great achievement of polio
eradication in the largest African economy is recorded in His time. While
restoring peace and stability in the North East, the coming Health minister
should strengthen surveillance in the region and ensure that all children are
vaccinated. Efforts should also be concentrated in the household visit (outreaches)
particularly hard to reach areas.
Whoever the health
minister will be, He must prioritize polio vaccine and work tirelessly to see
polio eradicated in His time. Aids tracking mechanisms should be in place to
achieve efficiency and effectiveness.
Achieving polio
eradication requires sustained actions by all the critical stakeholders.
Governments from local to state and federal levels must redouble their efforts
to ensure that the financial resources to eradicate polio are rapidly and fully
mobilised. There is also the need for sustained effort to cover the last mile
of making history at this most critical time.
Big Congratulations…God
Bless Nigeria!
