Malachy Uzendu
24 February 2004
Abuja — DESPITE sharp criticisms from sections of Northern parts of the country, the National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) yesterday commenced fresh administration of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) aimed at eliminating Wild Polio virus from the country.
NPI which faced series of attacks from Jama'at Nasir-Islam (JNI) and some influential Northerners, proceeded with the immunisation programme after it had disproved all allegation made against the OPV it imported from the World Health oganisation (WHO) through UNESCO.
These Northern/Islamic leaders had alleged that the OPV being used in the country had been laced with anti-fertility chemicals, asking its subjects not to avail the NPI of their children for immunisation.
But, after a painstaking scientific investigation into the OPV imported by NPI in London, India, China and other reputable laboratories, the NPI decided to commence this year's OPV exercise.
The programme, which started all over the country, would be pursued more vigorously in the northern parts of the country where the wild polio virus is more endemic.
Health Minister, Prof Eyitayo Lambo who confirmed both the controversy and commencement of the immunisation called on Islamic clerics nationwide to help correct the misconception on the vaccine.
He stated that with "the extensive analysis of the OPV being used in the country and the results obtained therefrom which cleared the OPV of any anti-fertility or dangerous substances, it behoves on the leadership of the north where polio virus is endemic, to ask their people to avail their children of the immunisation".
He noted that WHO and other international world bodies were in the process of imposing "heavy sanctions on the country if the wild polio virus is not eliminated in the country.
NPI National co-ordinator Dr. (Mrs.) Dere Awosika, who already mobilised officers for nationwide monitoring of the exercise, explained that "immunisation remained the best remedy for curbing childhood killer diseases".
She stated that NPI staff and other interested parties have been deployed to monitor the exercise in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Kebbi, Kaduna and other states where Wild Polio virus have remained high.
At the NPI headquarters, Abuja, NPI staff and other monitors were reported to have left since Sunday to their places of posting.
In Abuja, Benue, Nasarawa and Niger states, monitored by our correspondent, NPI officials were send administering the OPV on designated children.
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