Nigeria’s quest to end polio suffers set back
Nigeria`s efforts towards being certificate polio free this year is under threat as five new cases of polio virus outbreak has been confirmed in some states in the northern part of the country.
The states where the polio virus were discovered are: Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, Gombe and Sokoto, the Kano State Ministry of Health, that confirmed the development, says it has mounted an emergency response to the outbreak by launching a new wave of polio immunization exercise in nine local government areas of the State.
The polio immunization initiative mounted the ministry is coming on the heels of a similar exercise being carry out by Journalists Against Polio JAP in Kano which is geared at sensitizing residents of the state against the virus at the grassroots in the affected nine Local Government Areas, where the ongoing mop up vaccination is taking place.
The new round of immunization exercise which commenced on 1st and 4th of September, is planned to be followed with another one slated to start on 22nd and 25th of September, in all the communities sharing border with Jigawa and Katsina States to prevent possible importation of the virus to Kano.
Kabiru Ibrahim Gesto, Kano State Commissioner for Health, who confirmed this at a press briefing held in Kano, said “the affected local government councils where the mop up immunization is ongoing include Ajingi, Albasu, Dambatta, Gaya, Gabasawa, Makoda, Minjibir, Kunchi and Takai which are all neighboring Jigawa State”.
Getso stated that seven circulating vaccine-derived polio viruses type 2 (cVDPV2) were isolated from environmental samples only in Jigawa State and in addition, the cVDPV2 were also reported from Geidam Local Government in Yobe State, most recently in Baure Local Government in Katsina as well as Sokoto and Gombe States.
“It is an outbreak that is confirmed in the State bordering Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, it has also been seen in Gombe and Sokoto, so this exercise is in line with the guidelines of the Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization which stipulates conduct of mop up campaigns whenever there is outbreak of Circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus”, the Commissioner said.
According to him, the immunization exercise will also be conducted in some strategic places including markets and motor parks to ensure adequate protection of the Children against the virus. He added that the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) has come a long way in Kano State as the State is hitherto marking 49 months polio free status through the concerted efforts of stakeholders, hence the need for parents and guardians to support the ongoing mop up exercise in the affected nine local councils.
Meanwhile, on JAP’s sensitization campaign tagged “Polio has no treatment, no cure, support JAP to push out polio from your community forever”, Kolawole Omoniyi, JAP secretary, said the move was to complement the stakeholders’ efforts towards addressing the problem of non -compliance during the ongoing mop up exercise.
Responding, the Local Immunization Officer in Gaya, while appreciating the JAP visit, said the mop up exercise is going smoothly, adding that efforts are being made by both traditional and religious leaders to resolve the little cases of non-compliance recorded in the area.
Also speaking during the JAP visit to Koguna settlement in Makoda Local Government, the District Head of the LGA, Wada Waziri commended the State Government and JAP for their proactive measures towards avoiding resurgence of the virus in the State.
In Dambatta Local Government, the District Head, Muktar Adnan represented by Baba Ado, welcome JAP initiative, adding that the presence of Journalists in support of polio vaccination has showcased the importance of the campaign to the residents, hence the need for its embracement.