Daily Trust (Abuja)

Nigeria: FG Reassures On Polio Eradication

By Ruby Leo and Judd-Leonard Okafor, 25 February 2013

The Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication says it will intensify efforts to eradicate polio despite recent killings of 10 field vaccinators in Kano and three Korean doctors in Yobe.

The chairman of the taskforce and Minister of State for Health Muhammad Pate said support coming from state governors and families of the victims indicated that attacks "should not deter the good work that is being done to protect the children."

As the taskforce met for the first time with traditional leaders since the killings, Pate said, "we will continue to explain the importance of getting children immunised and the protection that is needed for health workers that are out there doing good work and to encourage health workers not to be cowed into submitting to the efforts of those who attack health workers."

World Health Organisation's Regional Representative, Dr Louis Sambo said the global body would continue its assistance to intensify integrated routine immunization programme to help eradicate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

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  • Garden-City Boy
    Feb 26 2013, 10:57
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    FG should stop worrying about the North over Polio vaccination. Awusas are okay with their army of polio freaks. They like it that way; augurs quite well with their culture of 'allah ban mbaka". We cannot waste more innocent lives in the effort to save a barbaric clan from themselves.