Nigeria boost surveillance against wild poliovirus as Mozambique and Malawi records new cases amidst 3rd year anniversary of wild poliovirus eradication free.
Nigeria achieved Wild Poliovirus(WPV) free status on the 25th of August 2020, after it recorded no case of poliovirus from 2019-2020.
Nigeria missed its first opportunity to attain its WPV certification in 2016 as a result of the Last case of WPV reported in Borno State.
Each year, over 270million doses of polio vaccines were administered with greater investments and efforts made to reach vulnerable populations including the nomads, non-complaints, hard-to-reach populations, riverine populations, and conflicts prone area.
Nigeria became the template for the Global Polio Programme for innovations, best practices and demonstration of leadership and ownership at national and sub-national levels.
In recognition of this, the WHO Regional Director in April 2022, issued three awards of excellence to Nigeria, for the implementation of the Auto-visual Acute Flaccid Paralysis Detection and Reporting
The Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib said the Agency in partnership with NCD has increased the surveillance system against importation of wild poliovirus from Mozambique and Malawi.
Congratulating Nigeria for staying poliovirus free for 3years, the Country Director, WHO Dr. Walter Mulombo called for sustenance through herd immunity of 80-85% of its children 5years and below.
Traditional rulers from the northwest And southwest, Emir of Argungu Alhaji Samaila Mera and the Oni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi spoke of the sacrifice of the traditional rulers in the country toward acceptance of polio vaccines especially in the north.
while some individuals and organizations were recognized with Polio Hero’s award for their roles in the eradication of polio, a minute silence was observed for the fallen Hero’s who contributed to Nation’s polio free status.
Reporting by Nancy Anikaezie; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu