Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchukwu? Chukwu, has said that the country has learnt some lessons on why its campaign for polio eradication did not succeed in the past, pointing out that the observed mistakes have now been corrected.
Prof. Chukwu disclosed this while receiving in audience, president of the Rotary International, Rotarian Sakuji Tanaka during a courtesy visit to his office.
He said the eradication of polio was a priority to the federal government, adding that some innovations had been adopted to address the mistakes of the past.
Some of the new strategies, he said, included the use of GPS devices to track the movement of migrants in areas at risk, while everyone involved in the campaign is now held accountable for lapses.
He also said Nigeria was working with neighbouring countries to ensure there is no cross-border transmission of the disease.
The minister noted that polio cases were localised in only 10 states, warning however, that there could be problem if immunisation is not continued in all states.
Chukwu said that President Goodluck Jonathan had taken the lead in the fight against polio, citing the inauguration of a presidential task force on polio eradication which meets frequently to review the situation.
He praised Rotary International for making it possible for the world to see polio eradication as an urgent global responsibility, saying that the federal government is proud of Rotary and other international partners working together to ensure that polio becomes history in Nigeria and the world, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the government of Japan.