NGF Approves Quarterly Campaigns For Polio Eradication …Rivers Target 90% Eradication

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has approved quarterly campaigns on poliomyelitis eradication in the 36 states of the country, the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, has said.

Amaechi who made the disclosure at the inauguration of the campaign last Saturday in Port Harcourt, said that the next campaign would take place in November.

He explained that the governors decided to accord priority to polio eradication because Nigeria was listed among polio endemic nations.

Amaechi said: ‘At the inception of this administration, polio and general immunisation coverage was 72 per cent but currently, the coverage is 75 per cent and 87 per cent, respectively’’.

The governor said the state was targeting 90 per cent coverage, adding: “ There is still a lot of work to be done, although government has built, equipped and commissioned Model Primary Healthcare Centres across the state for use by its citizenry.

“Our people are advised to use these facilities for all services and interventions, including immunisation as this will ensure attendant decrease in morbidity and mortality, especially among the vulnerable groups-children and women,” he said.

The governor urged the state’s ministry officials to ensure that the campaign was given the desired seriousness, not withstanding that the state still maintained zero status on polio infection.

“Though Rivers State is polio-free, Rivers people still travel outside and as such are prone to this deadly disease. For this reason, polio campaigns must be given the attention it deserved.  The Ministry of Health supervising polio eradication campaigns should not see this as a mere road show, because it is the right of every child to have polio vaccination free of charge in Rivers,’’ he said.

Dr Godwin Mpi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health  described as ‘a good omen’, the decision of the NGF to address the problem of polio in Nigeria.

Mpi said, “what had continued to drag back polio eradication in the past years, is lack of political will, but with the recent position of the governors, Nigeria will soon eradicate polio’’.

The Permanent Secretary said the choice of the theme, “Men Against Polio’, was selected, due to the significant role men play in society, noting that emphasis would be shifted to the role of women, youths and community in future campaigns.

Dr Akuro Okujiagu, the State’s Director of Public Health, urged nursing mothers in the state to always take part in the polio vaccination exercise, adding that the vaccine was potent and free.

Mrs Ladid Nasuru, a nursing mother who attended the event, told newsmen that she resolved to bring her children out, due to the problems faced by children who failed to take the vaccination.

“Some children who were not given this polio vaccination end up crippled and at times suffer all manner of disorder,” she said.

Our correspondent reports that Amaechi had  in a broadcast to Rivers people said that the crusade against polio was an initiative of the NGF to eliminate the poliomyelitis scourge in Nigeria.

Rt. Hon Aamaechi said the first quarter programme tagged,”Men Against Polio” is targetted of the men folk whom he said ,”wield tremendous influence in decision-making both at homes and in our communities, especially in matters of health.”

The Rivers State Governor said so far immunisation coverage to curb the disease is between 75 to 87 percent but stressed that the ultimate target is to achieve 90 percent hence the need for the citizenry to support in achieving the target.

He lamented that the country was still battling with preventable polio virus. In order to address the menace, he stated that the Governors’ Forum has decided to take up the challenge to raise awareness and  take proactive measures to check the spread of the viral disease.

He remarked that,” the Rivers State Government will show increased commitment in the fight against polio as well as the control, reduction and elimination of other childhood diseases”.

The governor while calling on the citizenry to avail themselves of the opportunity of immunising their children free of charge, said the state government has built and equipped  new Model Primary Health Centres to help provide the services in the local areas, and called on the various local council chairmen to help drive the scheme in their domain.

He used the opportunity to commend Rotary International, UNICEF, WHO and the Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation and other bodies that have lent support towards the drive to eliminate the scourge.