Nigeria records nine wild polio cases in Abuja, three other states in 2013

The Jonathan administration is committed to eliminating the wild polio virus in 2013.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, has said nine cases of wild polio virus have been recorded in four states and Abuja in the last three months.

Ado Mohammed, the Executive Secretary, told journalists in Sokoto shortly after the 2013 First Quarter meeting of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care delivery that the cases were recorded from January this year to date.

He listed the affected states as Nasarawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Abuja.

He said that there was, however, a remarkable reduction in the number of the cases compared to the 29 recorded during the same period in 2012.

“Even in the hitherto sanctuaries of the cases, progress had been achieved. This is courtesy of the involvement of the traditional rulers actively in the fight against polio.

“Efforts are on also to provide plausible solutions to some of the formidable security challenges affecting the polio campaign in some parts of Nigeria. We are engaging the traditional rulers and religious leaders as well as all the stakeholders in finding solutions to the problem,’’ Mr. Mohammed said.

According to him, the agency is strengthening routine immunisation while other ailments like measles and malaria will be included in its activities.

“The agency will continue to also partner all the security agencies and security cover will henceforth be given to polio vaccinators across the country,” he added.

Mr. Mohammed announced that the Federal Government had set up a local target for the country to totally interrupt the wild polio virus by the end of this year.

“This is against the international target of 2015 and President Goodluck Jonathan is religiously committed to achieving this target by the end of 2013,” he said.

(NAN)