Sustaining Success In Polio Eradication

It gives me great pleasure to address you today with very warm felicitations from the Executive Governor of Rivers State on the occasion of the first National Immunisation Plus Days campaign against Polio disease in 2012. On this great occasion, I feel quite impressed and happy to congratulate the people of Rivers State and the present administration led by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on the remarkable gains so far collectively achieved in the struggle to eradicate Polio disease from the State.

Polio is a viral disease transmitted feaco-orally and causes Acute Flaccid Paralysis in the young people leading to deformities and disabilities. There is concerted global effort to eradicate the disease from all over the world. Though the disease has no cure, complete eradication is achievable. Unfortunately, Nigeria is among the few countries in the world where the wild Polio Virus is still found. The major thrust of the eradication effort is ineffective mass immunisation, health education and awareness creation, collaboration, surveillance and evaluation of eradication strategies.

Interestingly, the disease has been eradicated in many parts of the world. In Nigeria, twenty one cases were recorded nationwide in 2010, and fifty seven cases in 2011. However, despite this increase in national incidence, the last case of confirmed Polio disease was seen in Rivers State on 31st May, 2007. There has been no reported case of Polio in the state in the last five years. This bold achievement is a direct consequence of collaborative effort of stakeholders and agencies in the state and particularly the commitment of the present administration to achieving the desired eradication target.

The administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has also taken the lead in sustaining and achieving this effort through a massively structured sustainable grassroot oriented Polio Vaccination Campaign, co- ordinated by the state Ministry of Health. The Free Medical Care Programme of the state has also unprecedentedly improved patient/client confidence in the health care service delivered by the government. Additionally, the new Model Primary Health Care Centres have become a portal for regular immunisation services as well as other preventive and therapeutic services. Furthermore, the Nigeria Governor’s Forum under the able Chairmanship of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is on a pioneer trail of grass- root, awareness campaign. All these have kept the state Polio free in the last five years.

We can surely say that ‘YES, WE CAN ERADICATE POLIO’. But all hands need to be on deck. The populace must remain vigilant and strive towards improvement in health promotional values. It is necessary to ensure a clean environment and personal hygiene. Appropriate refuse disposal and regular hand washing are important factors that help in interrupting the spread of the virus. Everyone is enjoined to take advantage of the immunisation services, state of the art functional health care facilities and be an awareness crusader for sustaining the on-going eradication campaign.

To consolidate the gains so far achieved the House to House Polio immunisation which begins on Saturday 18th February to 21st February, 2012, Health Workers and community guides will move from house to house (including schools, churches, playgrounds, health facilities and all settlements) administering the recommended dosage of two drops of Oral Polio Vaccine to children less than five years of age. All children within this age bracket are expected to participate in this exercise irrespective of how many times they have had the vaccine previously. The vaccines are safe, carries no risk of overdose and the benefits of participating in the exercise cannot be over emphasised.The Child Rights Law No. 10 of 2009 guarantees the right of the child to be immunised. Therefore, men, women, community leaders, traditional and religious leaders etc. are urged to mobilise and ensure that the children receive vaccination against the virus which is given at no cost.

I will conclude by commending the support of all the various agencies, stake holders and partners in the eradication of Polio especially the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Being a statewide broadcast by the State Commissioner of Health.

Sampson Parker