Jalingo — A new case of wild polio virus has been recorded in Wuru village of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, five years after the state was declared polio free.

This was disclosed by Ms Edele Thebaud, Chief of UNICEF D-Field Office, while signing the Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) in the office of the Secretary to the Taraba State Government in Jalingo yesterday.

Thebaud commended the state government for releasing N3million for mop up exercise, but added that a lot needs to be done for the state to become polio free again.

"UNICEF urges the state to ensure the establishment of a functional primary health care development agency; and the timely release of counterpart fund for the implementation of health activities like Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) and the Maternal and New-born Child Health Weeks (MNCHWs). UNICEF also urges the state government to encourage local government authorities to provide budgets for routine immunisation and adequate, and timely release of funds for immunization activities, particularly monitoring and supervision of Routine Immunization (RI) activities.

She also urged the state to increase cross-border surveillance as a proactive measure in eradicating the virus.

Responding, the SSG, Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwah, said the state government will not hesitate to implement the observations raised by UNICEF.