There appears to be no respite in Nigeria’s quest to eradicate Poliomyelitis inspite bridging funding gaps and polio vaccination campaigns against outbreaks, targeting high-risk areas in the North-West and North-East of the nation.
Joshua Hassan, Rotary International past District Governor disclosed this on Good morning Nigeria, NTA breakfast programme on Thursday, blaming it on the Nigerian factor.
He listed some of the factors responsible for the delay in eradicating Poliomyelitis to vaccine hesitation/rejection and poor hygiene in some parts of the Country, especially during the wet season and poor awareness creation around the existence of the deadly disease.
He revealed that Oral Poliovirus Vaccine, OPV, which is the cheapest form of prevention of polio disease, and free in promoting vaccine drive by stakeholders.
With the exception of Pakistan and Afghanistan that have eradicated polio, Hassan, who is also the chairman, Nigeria national Polio Plus Committee stated that: “There is no short time or long way out”.
According to him, it depends on the way we go about it because Poliomyelitis in the whole world. And as of now, only two Countries — Pakistan and Afghanistan are going against it.
“This vaccine drives viruses. This is what comes from the areas that have a very poor hygiene, especially in areas where routine immunization is very low.
“It is very rampant, and very worrisome. It is just springing up”, according to Hassan, while recommending the need for the people to own the vaccine prevention campaign project rather than showing look warm attitude towards public health education, policy and research in Nigeria.
