President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Daura town flagged off Katsina State’s round six of polio immunisation during which 2.5 million children under five years are expected to be administered the doses.
Buhari, about two weeks ago, during a meeting with state governors, had committed his administration’s readiness to ensuring a polio-free Nigeria by 2017, and directed state governors to ensure strict immunisation in their respective states.
The state governor, Aminu Masari, informed that about 2.9 million doses of the vaccine are available for the round six, adding that “we hope by the end of the year to do nine rounds.”
Gov Masari disclosed that in the last 35 months, not a single case of polio has been recorded in the state. “Our task force committee on polio has evolved well-articulated plans to ensure effective coverage of all,” he added.
Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Ali Takai, said that from 125 countries in 1988 when the virus was first discovered, concerted efforts have reduced it to three countries with 37 cases worldwide.
Dr Takai called for effective collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria is certified polio-free by the year 2017.
