The federal government says it is targeting to give Nigerians a polio-free country by end of December this year as it has recorded 87 per cent reduction in cases.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Al-Hassan stated this yesterday at a press conference to mark this year’s world polio day celebration in Abuja.
“Our target is by December 2014, we will interrupt the transmission of wild polio virus and with all the indicators that we have now, we can do it. We are confident that it will happen,” the minister said.
Al-Hassan explained that with just six cases remaining, the country has recorded 87% reduction in cases and with the help of global partners who are very supportive, the country can attain the status of a polio-free nation.
“Nigeria is one of the remaining polio endemic countries and is currently acknowledged globally as one that has made the greatest progress towards eradication in the last one year.
“This is evidenced by the fact that while Nigeria has reported only six cases of wild polio virus as at October 15, 2014, Afghanistan has 12 while Pakistan has 206 cases,” the minister said.
He added the government was conducting corrective surgeries on lots of those that had survived the virus roaming on the streets and having defects.
“There is a programme by the government whereby rehabilitative surgeries are being conducted on these unfortunate victims. Over 500 unfortunate victims have benefited so far and it is an ongoing project in collaboration with our partners,” he said.
Earlier, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Luiz Vaz said the WHO, UNICEF and other partners will support Nigeria to make sure that polio is interrupted by the end of 2014.
“I’m sure we can do that; we have shown with Guinea worm that it’s possible, we just interrupted the Ebola virus and I’m sure with the knowledge and big capacities we have, we can also interrupt polio. It’s going to be a great award for us particularly to the people of Nigeria,” he said.
