99% Of Polio Wiped Out In Nigeria-Dr Bashir

By Jibrilla Isa

The Executive Chairman, Adamawa state Primary Healthcare Development Agency Doctor Suleiman Saidu Bashir says Adamawa State has played central role in Nigerian’s Polio eradication effort.

Nigeria was certified as wild polio free on twenty-five august last years

The executive Chairman made the remark at the agency’s Headquarters in Yola during a press briefing to commemorate this year’s world polio day which is being observed on twenty fourth October every year.

He said ninety-nine percent of polio has been wiped out with the oral Polio vaccine.

Doctor Suleiman said only four cases type two polio virus were reported in Adamawa, one in Gombi and three in Yola South local government area.

The Executive Chairman appreciated the leadership of the Federal and States Ministries of health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency as well as polio and other immunization partners for their commitment to ensure that every child everywhere is vaccinated to stop the circulation of vaccine derived polio virus in Adamawa.

He disclosed that the Agency will conduct the National Immunization plus Days NIPD in Adamawa in all local governments’, wards, settlements and houses from thirtieth October to second November this year.

According to him, vaccinators will move from house to house for the campaign and will also use temporary, fixed sites as well as fixed post.

In a goodwill message on behalf of development partners the state coordinator of the World Health Organization Doctor Semeeh Omoleke said Nigeria was declared free polio after three years of absence of the virus by African Regional Certification Commission on twenty fifth August twenty-twenty.

Doctor Omoleke said Nigeria has been challenged with the COVID-nineteen pandemic which disrupted essential health services including routine and mass immunization exercises.

He called for collective actions by government at all level and health development partners as well as Donor Agencies and foreign governments.

Doctor Omoleke said Adamawa state is in partnership with the world health organization to ensure that surveillance system can rapidly detect potential cases of paralysis caused by any form of polio viruses within the populace especially children under fifteen years of age.