Nigeria announces Polio outbreak in 13 states, FCT
The Federal Government has announced the outbreak of Poliovirus called the Circulating Vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV2). in 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The Executive Director of the Nigerian Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuiab, disclosed this during the second Quarter Review meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care(PHC) delivery.
Shuiab said Abia, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara had reported outbreak of the virus.
According to him, the continuous spread of the virus in these states will not only have serious health implications but is an indication that the WPV free status which Nigeria attained in August 2020 is under threat.
Periscope International recalls that Nigeria was certified Polio-free in August last year by the African Regional Certification Commission (ARCC).
The NPHCDA boss said that for Nigeria to maintain its Wild Polio Virus-free status, it must strive to ensure that it stops the transmission of the (CVDPV2) in communities.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar, in his remark, said that Nigeria was not out of the woods even though it was certified WPV free as cases of CVDPV2 continue to spread.
Represented by Samaila Muhammad Mera, the Chairman, Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Immunization on PHC, the Sultan stressed the need for continuous sensitisation of the Nigerian populace to embrace the vaccine.
The Sultan added that the testimonies of the experiences from individuals will go a long way to address and counter the negative narratives on the disease and the safety of the vaccine.
Also speaking, Peter Hawkins, UNICEF country Representative, urged the Nigerian government to sustain routine immunization, adding that nearly 2,000 children die daily globally as a result of low immunization.
