Overthe last few years, Nigeria has made significant progress toward eradicating polio, a devastating disease that continues to threaten our children with lifelong paralysis and even death. We once struggled to contain the...disease, reporting 799 cases in 2008 alone. Yet, thanks to commitment from leaders across all levels as the cases dropped by 95 per cent from 2009 to 2010, a remarkable sign of progress for Nigeria and the global polio campaign.But on this years World Polio Day, we are at a crossroads and our hard won progress is at serious risk. In 2011 alone, Nigeria has avoided major polio outbreaks but it has nevertheless counted more than four times the number of polio cases as at this time last year. We need to take urgent action as a nation to stop polio now.An increase in cases this year is alarming and due in part to declining political oversight at a critical juncture and the inadequate implementation of emergency plans in key infected areas. If we are committed to eliminating this crippling disease, we cannot continue on the same course. Urgent action must be taken to ensure that reaching the chronically missed children is everyones priority so that polio does not resurge in our communities.Recent advances give me confidence that Nigeria can end this disease. Our leaders have strengthened their resolve to eliminate polio, including commitments from all 36 state governors and the leaders of the Federal Capital Territory to personally participate in the quarterly Polio Awareness Days. The first of these took place on August 13, and it was followed by a visit to Nigeria by Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee. Rotary International has been a global champion for polio eradication, and during Mr. Banarjees visit, we agreed that polio eradication must remain one of the topmost priorities.A month later, during a visit by philanthropist Bill Gates, President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to end polio in Nigeria within the next two years. In addition, Vice-President Namadi Sambo and I led state governors in a re-confirmation of the Abuja Commitments, pledging to reach at least 90 per cent of children with polio vaccines with the goal of wiping out polio from the country and improving routine immunisation.These steps will help move Nigeria, and the world, closer than ever to eradicating this crippling disease. Today, with the help of partners around the world, global polio cases have decreased by 99 per cent, with fewer than 1,500 cases last year. We are close to making polio only the second disease in history, after smallpox, to be eradicated.But recent progress alone will not get us to our goal. To achieve success, Nigeria and the broader global community must step up its commitment even further.In Nigeria, we must do our part by strengthening efforts to protect our children against this disease. All governors must increase their personal involvement in and oversight of eradication efforts within their states. We must ensure that all children, including those in migrant families and in hard to reach areas, receive the vaccines they need to be protected. We also need stronger vaccination campaigns and improved surveillance systems to track and detect the spread of poliovirus. And finally, parents need to be ready to accept the vaccine. Non-compliance is an acute problem in some areas of the country and we need to win their trust if their children are to be protected from polio. If there are weaknesses in any of these areas, we will not succeed in eradicating this disease.Globally, we must join with others to give polio the attention it needs. Later this week, our leaders will meet with others in Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where polio eradication will receive international attention. I hope Commonwealth leaders seize the opportunity to support eradication at the necessary levels.There are many reasons why this fight deserves our urgent attention. Polio is a persistent disease that ignores borders. Polio virus in Nigeria has spread to countries such as Chad, Niger and Mali, showing that as long as there is polio anywhere, the threat of polio exists everywhere. We have a responsibility to our neighbours children as much as our own children.Polio can also spread silently; for every child who is paralysed, another 200 children are infected with the virus and risk spreading it to others. Once polio is eradicated, we will no longer need to treat children who would have been paralysed by the virus, allowing us to save untold amount of naira and invest funds in other health priorities.But no one group can finish the job alone. International partners, including Rotary International, UNICEF, WHO and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have supported our efforts in Nigeria, and lent their leadership and funding to give children in our country and around the world the chance to be protected from polio for a lifetime. Now, it is time for other leaders to increase their commitment to help win this fight.We have a chance to defeat polio once and for all, and it is our responsibility to show the world that we will not rest until we finish the job.Amaechi is Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.
Click here to read full news..
