This Day (Lagos)
Danjuma Michael
2 July 2009
Kaduna — Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has said that the country is approaching final stage for the total eradication of guinea worm disease which is to pave way for Nigeria to receive the World Health Organisation's (WHO) certification that it had totally dealt with the disease.
The former head of state, who stated this in Katsina yesterday, said the eradication of the disease is essential before the WHO certification could be issued, and that a minimum of three years would be required for the country to show or prove that it had the disease eradicated or well under control.
According to him, the country had three years to show that a zero-case status is maintained in the control of the disease, maintaining that one of the then guinea worm -prone state- Enugu , is now recording a zero level infection which is a remarkable achievement that would ensure the country's.
certification in the shortest time possible. Gowon said the efforts of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua while he was governor had ensured a zero rate case for the past six years as he provided necessary incentive to ensure that the state was rid of the disease. He praised the efforts of the state government for ensuring that no case of the disease is found or recorded.
Speaking on the amnesty plan by the Federal Government for the militants in the Niger Delta, he said the development was a welcomed one as it would pave way for the country to accept and absolve them into the society as well as promote peaceful co-existence which is a necessary ingredient for the development of any country. Gowon, who expressed the genuineness of the president towards ensuring that lasting peace was brought into the Niger Delta region, lauded the amnesty plan and likened it to his policy of reconciliation after the civil war while he was still head of state.
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