The Federal government says Nigeria’s wild poliovirus free certification is not under any threat. This is coming one week after Nigeria was declared wild polio virus free country after one year.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Faisal Shuaib stated this on Monday at the 3rd quarter Northern Traditional Leaders Committee (NTLC) on Primary Health Care Review meeting in Abuja.
According to him this achievement is due to the collective efforts of all traditional fathers, steering the boat of leadership to ensure vaccination is widely accepted by all in the country.
He said this shows that our traditional leaders have the interest of their community at heart and are collaborating with the Government in ensuring basic healthcare services are available to the people.
Dr. Shuaib said with the different disease outbreaks that the country is currently contending with, it is imperative that our approach becomes more integrated because they are all interwoven.
He said amidst COVID-19, we have Cholera, CVDPV2 which is as a result of suboptimal routine immunization in some parts of the country.
He added that as we conduct outbreak response campaigns, we need to find a way to integrate our responses for efficient utilization of available resources and to enhance confidence in our people.
He said integration will also enhance our determination to continue to safeguard our wild polio virus free status.
Dr. Shuaib appreciated the Sultan of Sokoto, NTLC members and all traditional and religious leaders across the country for the sustained support and continuous mobilization of the community to ensure that we remain WPV free.
He further announced that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi is providing leadership in the systematic engagement of the Traditional leaders in the SouthWest with the Southwest Traditional Leaders’ Committee on PHC delivery which was inaugurated by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire on 2nd of September 2021.
