Jigawa State government has reiterated its commitment to the polio eradication campaign despite the discovery of new cases of the virus in the state.
The state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido disclosed this while speaking at the launching of the polio free torch campaign held in the state capital, Dutse.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud stated that the current resurgent of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) and Circulating Vaccine Polio Derived Virus (CVDPV) in the state is an unfortunate and acceptable state of affairs in the fight to eradicate poliomyelitis not only in Jigawa state but in the global community.
He said the state recorded a big score when it was free from polio between the years 2010-2011, but unfortunately the virus reappeared in the second quarter of 2011.
“Nevertheless the discovery of the new cases will not dampen our effort to ensure total eradication of polio in Jigawa State and the world. The state government is all out to work hand in hand with all stakeholders and collaborators to the cause of eradicating the disease”.
Also speaking at the occasion, the executive director National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ado? Muhammad said, the new campaign for total eradication of poliomyelitis is unique from the previous ones as new modalities and techniques are put in place that will ensure the achievement of targeted goals by the end of 2012.
He said Jigawa State stands out as one of the states with highest burden of WPV by recording seven cases this year out of 49 discovered all over Nigeria.
“Despite? this negative development, we are however extremely confidence that as we entered 2012, this statistics will become a history of the past”.
“The federal government is encouraged by the very high political and financial and selfless commitment demonstrated by the state governors, traditional rulers, donor agencies, civil societies and other stakeholders in the fight against poliomyelitis which subsequently resulted in astronomic drop of the cases from 338 in 2009 to 47 in 2010”, Dr Ado stated.
He? applauded the Northern traditional rulers committee, UNICEF, Nigerian Olympic Committee, NPHCDA, federal ministry of health, states and local governments and the general public on their key roles in? polio free? campaign.
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