Sultan Restates Support For Polio Eradication

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has  reiterated traditional rulers’ commitment toward the eradication of polio in the country between now and the end of 2012.

The Sultan renewed the commitment in Sokoto on Saturday during a sensitisation meeting with 35 northern emirs and officials of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) .

He said:“we want to assure the President that we will sustain the current efforts aimed at totally stopping the transmission of the wild polio virus.

“The traditional rulers are totally committed and we will do everything humanly possible to ensure the success of the three polio immunisation programmes scheduled for between now and October.

“No stone will be left unturned by the traditional rulers to ensure that more than 90 per cent of the targeted children are adequately covered during the exercises.

“The end of year target for the stoppage of the transmission of the wild polio virus will be met by the grace of God, as the emirs will all go back to their respective domains and ensure that the targeted children are fully immunised.’’

Abubakar also promised that the traditional rulers would sustain the current support to the Presidential Committee on Polio Eradication and those in the states, as well as the local governments.

Highlights of the event was the signing of the “Pact on Responsibility’’ by the Sultan on polio eradication.