Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has constituted the council's chapter of the "Polio Eradication and Routine Immunisation Task Team" to combat the disease headon.

Inaugurating the 13- member committee, the AMAC Chairman, Hon. Dr. Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo, explained that the constitution of the team was in line with a ministerial directive to follow suit at the area council level. This is expected to form a synergy in strenghtening the routine oral polio immunisation drive.

Jisalo while charging the 13-man team, said the assignment is a very strict, wholesome and demanding one. He urged them to take the exercise very serious.

"It is the intention of the Federal Government to eradicate (Not minimise) the polio menace by March 2009, hence the strenghtening of routine immunisation through this team".

Speaking further, he said the team was mandated to among others, observe strictly the following high points;

To ensure rapid supression of WPV (Wild Polio Virus) outbreak in the area council by engaging all relevant stakeholders for action;

To consider advocacy campaigns to all wards, policy makers and community leaders for support towards this emergency and alerting the ward leadership to their responsibility towards local eradication of polio;

To draw up activities that will help mobilise and engage local communities in the fight against polio outbreak in the area council;

To put measures in place that will make for polio eradication by mid 2009 and strenghten routine immunisation service delivery.

The committee has Hon (Mrs) Anthonia Okoli, AMAC vice chairman as the chairman, Dr. Sunday Goji, Secretary while Hon. Sabo Angulu, Abigail Ocheni, Mubashiru Bala, Elijah Zakoyi and Mustapha Abdulkareem were to serve as members.

Others include, HRH, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, Emeka Mbanusi, CAN chairman, AMAC, Imam, Area 1 Mosque and the DPO Garki.