Despite President Buhari’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria remained Polio-free this year, the virus has returned with two confirmed cases in the north of Nigeria. The country’s quest to gain its Polio-free status from the World Health Organisation suffered a set back earlier this month, when the Nigerian Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, confirmed the outbreak of the Wild Polio Virus (WPV) in Borno State. The outbreak has affected two children from the Gwoza and Jere local government areas of the state.

In July this year, President Buhari declared that “never will Nigerian children suffer from Polio again.” Following the successful prohibition of the transmission of the Wild Polio virus for two years, the president made this declaration in commemoration of the 2nd year mark, the 24th of July.

Unfortunately, as the Federal Government rolls out N9.8 billion to fight the disease once again, it appears the Nigerian President was wrong. According to the Minister of Health, the virus has a high risk of spreading further due to population movement within and around the states. Hence, the money will be used to execute the polio response plan developed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and its partners.

In addition to this, the Nigerian Federal  Government has reportedly asked for a $125m loan from the World Bank to fund its fight against the Polio disease. According to the Vanguard newspaper, the Nigerian Minister of Health hinted at this yesterday, during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases. The required loan facility will go a long way in aiding the fight against the spread of Polio and other communicable diseases in the country as he explained how his ministry intends to utilise it. Professor Adewole stated that if granted the $125 million loan, then $60 million would be used for vaccination against polio alone in six rounds, while the remaining $65 million would be used for preventive vaccination against the outbreak of any other communicable disease.

As Nigeria begins its battle against Polio Myelitis, Kenya is stocking up in preparation as well. The East African country has reportedly heightened its surveillance for Polio following the outbreak in Nigeria. The country’s Ministry of Health has asked parents to ensure their children receive the appropriate immunisation to prevent an epidemic in the country.

“The re-infection in Nigeria means that no country in the world, especially Africa is safe because in the past we have had cases of disease importation,” said an expert from the Kenyan Ministry of Health.

Elsewhere on Ventures

Triangle arrow