JUST when there is justifiable chest beating that, in the words of Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate 'Nigeria is on the brink of an historic achievement' to conquer the scourge of polio with only 44 cases reported up to late November, a new case of the Wild Polio Virus type 1 (WPV1) has lately been reported in Jigawa State. This is worrying. Polio must be fought into complete eradication. We recall that, in recognition of the serious threat that polio poses, a continent-wide conference on immunization held a few weeks ago in Windhoek, Namibia with the theme 'Towards a polio-free Africa'.Recently, a Presidential Task Force on polio eradication in the country was set up, appropriately, under the office of Dr. Ali Pate who was, until his ministerial appointment, the executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NAPHCDA) and who reportedly said that the government had set a six-month target to rid the nation of the disease. Beyond conferences, meetings and target-setting, Nigerians would want to see concrete achievement. Only a 100 per cent eradication of polio from our nation will do.Dr. Pate had, on the occasion of the World Polio Day on October 24 vowed an all-out war against the preventable but not curable disease until 'a 100 per cent reduction' is achieved. With the latest report, his team must hit the ground running and deliver on its mandate in the shortest possible time. And for good reason too.In 2010, Nigeria recorded only eight cases compared to 382 the preceding year and 798 in 2008. Indeed President Goodluck Jonathan was proud to inform his guest, Mr. Bill Gates that the country had reduced polio infections by 90 per cent as at mid-year 2010. But it appears that poliomyelitis is a stubborn disease that won't go away easily, especially where and when it is aided by poor sanitary habits, ill-informed cultural practices, religious beliefs or indeed any other unhealthy lifestyle. Thus, from single-digit incidents last year, we have witnessed a five-fold increase within a year. This is most disheartening and unacceptable. For some time now, our country has been embarrassed within the community of nations by the fluctuating cases of polio infection.Besides the fact that Nigeria is one of a handful of poor countries still afflicted by this preventable disease, the country is even presented as part of the problem. In reaction to the latest figure, World Health Organization (WHO) official Thomas Moran is reported to have claimed that 'the success of polio eradication in Africa rests on Nigeria interrupting the virus'.In an editorial late 2010, this newspaper had cause to warn against complacency in the face of the success recorded against this terrible disease of the nervous system. A task force such as the president has set up is, by definition, a team of competent persons charged to perform a specific, urgent task through if need be, drastic methods; and equipped, we must add, with all necessary resources to deliver. Under the guidance of Dr. Pate, a man familiar with the problem at hand, Nigerians have absolutely no reason to expect but a quick and effective result.It is worthy emphasising again that the fight - or better put, the war - against polio and indeed other diseases that avoidably afflict our citizens, is not that of government alone. Nigeria has been lucky to benefit from the assistance of foreign organisations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the WHO. But the burden rests largely on Nigerians to achieve the desired goal. Government at all levels must do their part to fund as well as provide and monitor the distribution of incentives such as milk, chocolates, and candies that are used to encourage children's cooperation, and pain relieving drugs, or to treat reaction to polio treatment. This arises given the previous experience in Kogi State where the non-provision of these simple incentives hindered the effectiveness ofanti-polio efforts. Traditional rulers have, rightly, bought into the anti-polio programme and are indeed in the vanguard of the public enlightenment effort. We note, for example, that not too long ago, one of the first official engagements of the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu was to participate in the immunization of children in his palace. That is encouraging; but, as the saying goes, it is not over until it is over. In addition to efforts of the presidential task force, each organisation and individuals, must play their respective parts to 'kick out polio' from this land by the end of 2012. That will be one less stigma on our country.
Click here to read full news..
