Osinbajo hails two years of Nigeria’s Polio free experience
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday applauded Nigeria’s development partners, the Federal Ministry of Health and all the collaborating agencies for ensuring that the country has not recorded any new case of the wild poliovirus in the last two years, encouraging them to sustain the tempo.
This is just as he declared the government owe Nigeria a debt of ensuring full implementation of the Abuja Commitment made by the Federal and State governments to provide active leadership for polio eradication activities, including routine immunization.
Speaking at the 92nd Osinbajo National Economic Council Meeting. According to him, “The Abuja Commitment is a promise we all made; it is now a debt that we owe to the Nigerian people. We must individually and collectively work to achieve the Abuja commitment indicators.”
Osinbajo assured that the Federal Government remains resolutely committed to the crucial cause of polio eradication in the country
The Vice President commended the supportive efforts of the Nigerian military, stating, “Our military will continue to collaborate with you to provide security and support as you ensure that all eligible children in every part of the country are reached with the polio vaccine and other health and humanitarian interventions.”
He added that there would be need to collaborate with our neighbours such as the Niger Republic and Lake Chad Islands.
He urged the governors to collaborate closely with the Federal Government especially in the timely provision of funds, rigorous oversight, and other support that would fast-track on-going efforts to totally eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunization.
The Vice President also used the opportunity to commiserate with all the families of health workers who lost their lives in the course of delivering services to humanity, in particular, the families of Saifura Husain Ahmed Khorsa and Hauwa Liman who were kidnapped and killed by Boko Haram.
He prayed that God would give their families the fortitude to bear the great losses. He also extended his sincere condolence to the International Committee of Red Cross ICRC, whose staff the two courageous and committed ladies belonged.
In his own remarks, Minister of State for Health, DOsagie Ehanire, told the Council that the National Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre has been driving innovation strategies to improve routine immunization since its establishment in July 2017.
He told the Council that Nigeria has now gone over 2 years without a case of Wild Poliovirus.
He told the Council that the National Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre has been driving innovative strategies and interventions to improve Routine Immunization since its establishment in July 2017.
The Quarterly survey was adopted to monitor Routine Immunization Programme performance at LGAs and State levels.
He stated that President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) signed the Revised Abuja Commitments on Routine Immunization on 20th January, 2016.
The 36 States Governors have committed themselves to actions aimed at ensuring a polio-free Nigeria, improving Primary Health Care and strengthening Routine Immunization.
Implementation of Abuja Commitment Indicators which is being monitored quarterly, was used to highlight challenges, including those of insecurity which he said was stalling on-going efforts to eradicate polio
He warned that political commitment at Sub-national level to polio, Routine Immunization and Primary Health Care, non-provision of counterpart funds by some States and LGAs, as well as Infrastructural gaps; many facilities are dilapidated and lack basic equipment.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja