Rakiya. A. Muhammad
28 July 2008
Sokoto. — The Director, Primary Healthcare, Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Dr.Aburrazak Gandi has expressed concern over the upsurge in polio cases in Nigeria this year, and called on stakeholders to ensure that they check the transmission of the virus.
He made the call at the weekend in Sokoto while commenting on the fifth round of immunization against child killer diseases.
Dr.Gandi said, "Generally speaking, if you look at the performance as far as Nigeria is concerned this year, we have an upsurge, presently we have about 500 cases in Nigeria."
The director noted that most of the cases were either in the northwest or northeast part of the country.
He recalled that polio cases had dropped last year, and that it was thought that by this year the virus would have been fully controlled but that the present statistics on polio in the country indicate the contrary.
The director who noted that the current round of immunization was not going to be the final round, expressed hope that by early next year, Nigeria should be able to interrupt the spread of the virus.
According to him, with sustained efforts and social mobilization, success would be achieved in that direction.
Also speaking while monitoring the immunization exercise, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Nababa Umar observed that the major problem hampering the eradication of polio was ignorance and some erroneous beliefs held by some people on vaccination.
He said sustained immunization against polio would go a long way in ridding the society of the disease.
The Permanent Secretary stressed the need for parents, traditional and religious leaders to support the fight against the disease by ensuring that all eligible children are covered within the three days as stipulated.
To ensure the success of this round of immunization he said, adequate vaccinators had been deployed to the targeted number of children.
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