Kwara State Governor - Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed (right), administering polio vaccine on a child while the
Kwara State Governor - Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed (right), administering polio vaccine on a child while the Commissioner for Health - Dr Abdul Kayode Issa (middle) and Director, Primary Health Care - Dr Mrs Abimbola Folorunsho (left) assist.
The Kwara State Governor - Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has promised that the State will remain polio-free as it has been since 2009 when the last two cases were reported.
Ahmed gave the promise at the flag-off of the second round of National Immunisation Plus Day at the Adewole Cottage Hospital in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the State.
“I am pleased to report that in the last three years, no case of Wild Polio virus or Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio has been reported, even in the face of a very sensitive surveillance network. Despite this achievement, Kwara State remains committed to remain polio free, especially as we share borders with some states and countries that are still recoding cases,” he said.
Ahmed said it was unfortunate that Nigeria contributes ninety two percent of the polio burden in African region which makes the country one of the three countries in the world where poliomyelitis remains a major health issue.
The Governor attributed the polio-free status of Kwara State to the efforts of the surveillance team, the support of the World Health Organisation and other developmental partners as well as routine immunisation staff and other health care workers in the State.
The State Commissioner for Health - Alhaji Kayode Issa said the strengthening of the existing health system structure was the best way to fight vaccine preventable diseases such as poliomyelitis.
The Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Area - Hajia Tawakalitu Abdulkadir, represented by the Vice-Chairman - Alhaji Ibrahim Soliu, said government’s efforts towards the eradication of polio was a clear demonstration of commitment to the building of sustainable development in the country as health needs of future leaders are attended to.
Hajia Tawalkaltu Abdulkadri appealed to mothers to ensure that their children within the age of 0 to 5 are immunised against polio in order to forestall an outbreak of the disease.