By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has stressed that all hands be put on deck to ensure that polio virus circulation in Nigeria is adequately take care off.
Just as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, said that President Ahmad Tinubu is aware of the difficulties Nigerians have been going through since he assumed office.
He however said that it is a fallacy for anyone to think that the president alone can solve these problems bedeviling them.
Ali Pate said that the President is concerned about Nigerians' plight and has directed all his aides to work towards alleviating their sufferings.
UNICEF through its Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Cristian Munduate disclosed this during the quarterly review meeting of the northern traditional leaders’ committee on PHC delivery in Bauchi where she said the fight against polio virus in Nigeria is facing unique challenges due to Nomadic movement, insecurity and low routine immunization coverage.
Represented at the occasion by Health Manager, UNICEF Nigeria, Dr. Shamina Sharmin, Munduate stressing that insecurity and conflict disrupts vaccination campaigns and compromises the ability of vaccination to reach vulnerable population.
Munduate explained that addressing security challenges is crucial in the delivery of vaccines’ national service, adding that low routine immunization coverage in some areas contributes to the persistence of polio.
She emphasized that Routine Immunization programme is vital for building population immunity and reducing the risk of polio virus transmission.
Munduate further asserted that combating polio requires collaborative effort involving the government agencies, international organizations, local communities and other stakeholders.
“We cannot do it alone, we have to come together hands in hand to overcome the challenges of Nomadic movement, insecurity and low routine immunization coverage and ultimately achieve a zero dose and polio free Nigeria”, the UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria said.
She added that the threat of polio virus as long as it exist anywhere in the world, underscores the importance of global collaboration.
While thanking the traditional leaders for being a significant part of writing the unique history of Nigeria in the fight to eradicate the wild polio virus and the ongoing war against outbreaks, Munduate, observed that the vital roles they are playing in the polio response, routine immunization, and primary health care cannot be underestimated.
Cristian Munduate applauded the traditional leaders for raising awareness and encouraging the use of healthcare services, especially by vulnerable populations such as the Children and women.
The Country Representative of the UNICEF encouraged the Traditional Leaders to continue to do more to strengthen routine immunization and kick polio completely out of Nigeria.
She assured that UNICEF is committed and dedicated to implementing approaches in close coordination with other stakeholders like the Ministry of Health and National Primary Health Care Development Agencies to effectively effect vaccination-related behaviour change in individuals and communities.
Speaking, Governor Bala Abdukadir Muhammad appreciated the Sultan of Sokoto for the invaluable roles he has been playing in primary healthcare development.
He said his government would continue to recognize and cherish the role he played in mobilizing traditional leaders to create awareness in the community.
Senator Bala also commended all the development partners for their continued support toward the improvement of the health conditions of the people of Nigeria.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa'ad III, who was also at the occasion thanked the development partners like the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, and Rotary, among others.
He stressed that, “We appreciate your contributions. We can’t do it alone without your support and that of the state governors in the North in particular.”
He assured that, “We will continue to work for the people of Nigeria and the people of the North in general,” just as he appreciated Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdukadir Muhammad for hosting the meeting.
