By Ayo Adesugba
Nigeria has received commendation from Dr. Margaret Chan, the Director General of the World Health Organization, WHO, for the country’s efforts in curbing the scourge of the Polio Virus. Dr. Chan gave the commendation in her address to the Sixty-eighth Session of the World Health Assembly which opened on Monday, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The WHO Director General observed that in the past nine months Nigeria has not had any reported case of the disease and according to her “The situation in Nigeria looks extremely encouraging.” She further stated that overcoming the polio virus disease “is one initiative that must not fail.” The Dr. Chan pointed out that Afghanistan and Pakistan have both made great strides despite severe challenges.
Nigeria’s recognition by the WHO boss comes as a result of its aggressive response in tackling the Polio Virus. Its efforts have yielded success as no case of the disease has been reported in the southern part of the country for five (5) years and with the exception of some cases in Kano and Yobe States, no polio virus infection has been reported in the past two years in the Northern states.
The nation has strengthened surveillance and routine immunization, embarking on house-to-house campaigns to ensure that all eligible children receive the life-saving Polio vaccine. If Nigeria’s efforts are sustained, by July 2015, the country will be removed from the list of polio endemic countries by the World Health Organization.
