Reuben Buhari
5 July 2009
Kaduna — The failure of Nigeria to eradicate the scorge of Polio has been described by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Everton Yari, as one of the biggest setbacks in the nation's quest for national development.
The commissioner, who said eradicating polio needs multi-dimensional approach also question Nigeria's ability to be among the top 20 developed economies in the world by the year 2020 when it cannot even eliminate polio within its country.
He said that Nigeria's inclusion among the four countries that are yet to eradicate the virus has been a constant embarrassment to its leaders when they go outside the country for international meetings. Yari appealed to all stakeholders to put more effort toward eliminating the virus.
"Of all the countries of the world, only four countries are left behind in combating polio, and Nigeria is one of the countries that when you consider the condition of other countries that have eradicated it, you wonder why polio persists in Nigeria. Our President is usually embarrassed. Our leaders often get embarrased especially at different world fora. You said you want to achieve a top economy by 2020 and yet you cannot eliminate polio, this is a very big problem, and that is why all hands must be on deck.
"Whether you are a journalist or a teacher, we have to put polio at bay. The good thing is that when you are dealing with polio you are also dealing with other critical problems confronting children.
Please I am begging our society, let us do more and overcome this crisis so that generations behind us will be free of this unhealthy situation undermining the future of our children". He stated.
The Head of Communication of Journalist Against Polio (JAP), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) which held an interactive session at the Kaduna State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), added that polio has now crippled many children thereby putting a question mark on their future dreams and aspiration.
Appealing to reluctant parents to make their children available for the next round of immunisation, Ahmed Maiyaki further noted that "It is quite worrisome that we are still lagging behind in overcoming this disease and many others militating against the well-being of our society. Some of our children now had deliberate disabilities that were preventable but happens owing to our ignorance and false indoctrination. But from now on and as this routine begins tomorrow we will pursue it vigorously and mobilize parents to make children available.
We are also appealing to the parents to make children available. It is important because children being free of polio serves the family best and save cost. Please we are begging in the name of God if we don't protect the future of the children we are not being just to them and their future," he said.
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