FG Declares Polio Emergency As WHO Pledges Support

The Federal Government has declared polio a public health emergency and initiated vaccinations in Borno State, as part of efforts to contain further outbreaks of the crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease.

According to a statement from the Director, Media/Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Mrs Boade Akinola, the polio emergency came as the World Health Organisation (WHO), pledged to support Nigeria in eradicating the disease from the country.

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole announced the Federal Government’s plan to contain polio at the 66th Session of the WHO Regional Committee meeting for Africa which took off in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday.

After the opening of the meeting, Adewole told newsmen that vaccinations would similarly commence in two additional states from Monday 22, August, 2016, to be followed by 18 other states. He added, “Eventually the country would implement six rounds of vaccination according to the international best practices.”

In her speech at the opening ceremony, the Director General of the WHO, Margaret Chan pledged that the WHO would support Nigeria to eradicate polio. She recalled with admiration, the feat recorded by Nigeria in celebrating two years of no single case of wild polio transmission, while regretting the two new cases of children paralysed by polio in Borno State.

“This set back in no way undermines the tremendous job done by the Nigerian government in getting down to zero case. You will get there again. We will get the job done,” Chan said, adding that WHO would offer the necessary support to Nigeria in putting an end to polio. She commended the efforts of the governments of the region in creating improved health access and reducing the disease burden despite the huge challenges the continent is facing.

These results, according to Chan, provides powerful evidence of what can be achieved in resource constrained settings, and an equal powerful incentive for further investment in domestic and foreign resources, she added.

According to her, the progress so far recorded in Africa provides a reason for optimism as the world moves into the era of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She said Africa stands to benefit most from implementation of the SDG Agenda, especially since the alleviation of poverty is an over-arching SDG objective as nothing holds back health development in the region as much as the full grip of poverty.

Earlier in her statement, the Regional Director, Africa, WHO, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said there was a tremendous improvement in the way the region responds to emergencies.

She said: “Although Africa faces multiple and complex disease outbreaks, timely detection and improved emergency response will help in tackling the challenge.”

She noted that the two new cases of wild polio virus recorded in Nigeria has prompted the call for more vigilance in the region, especially in the areas which were hitherto rendered inaccessible by security challenges. She commended the prompt response by the Nigerian government and welcomed the planned commencement of synchronised vaccination of the vulnerable population by the governments of Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic and Nigeria scheduled for August 27, 2016.

The President of Ethiopia, Dr. MulatuTeshome in declaring the meeting open called on African nations to stay vigilant and prepare to address both the current and emerging health threats. “Let us not lose sight that our present preparedness is a guaranteed investment for tomorrow,” he added. The regional meeting is expected to round off on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

– New Telegraph