Prof Isaac Adewole, Nigeria’s health minister, has declared that the country is on its last lap to end poliomyelitis in the country.
And to continue its fight against polio, the Nigerian government has received a donation totalling USD5,732,360 from Rotary International. The donation was handed over to UNICEF Country Representative Nigeria Dr. Pernille Ironside.
At the handover ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole commended Rotary International for the donation and called on other partners to support Nigeria on its efforts to become polio free country.
The Minister said Nigeria is on its last lap to end polio and in “the next couple of months”, Nigeria would be certified polio free.
He stressed that all children that are previously inaccessible in the North-East must access vaccinations before the certification. He also commended the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for routine immunization in the country. According to him, there is great improvement on the coverage of immunization.
“There is tremendous improvement on the routine immunization, but we are not there yet, we need to work hard to ensure that we reach every child so that we can beat our chest and say yes we are there” Adewole said.
In his remarks, the Chairman Polio Plus Committee, Rotary international, Dr. Tunji Funsho, said that polio eradication is an expensive venture that requires everybody to be on board.
“This donation would inspire other partners to come on board and support the Nigeria government, we in polio plus committee were reaching more and more children, more and more areas that are hitherto not accessible particularly with the support of the Military.
Speaking, UNICEF Deputy Country Representatives Nigeria, Dr. Pernille Ironside said that the donation was to complement government effort on polio eradication in Nigeria. She said they are so interested to ensure that Nigeria is certified as polio free country, being the most populous country in Africa.
“If Nigeria succeed other African Countries would succeed,” she said.