Cross section of participants at the UNICEF Representative meeting with Sokoto state LGAs, chairmen, Religious and Traditional Leaders aimed at Accelerating Progress Towards Eradication of Polio Virus in Sokoto State.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday engaged Sokoto State local chairmen, religious and traditional leaders on steps towards permanent eradication of polio.
The event with the theme: “Accelerating Progress Towards Eradication of Polio Virus in Sokoto State” was held at the 8 Division Army Officers Mess and Suite, Sokoto.
The State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Umar Abubakar, expressed concern in his welcome address that the negative attitude of some individuals towards vaccination is hindering the progress of polio eradication efforts in the state. This attitude according to him is a significant barrier to achieving the desired outcomes in the fight against polio.
He said: “‘It is so disturbing to note that Sokoto is still the second largest state with polio in Nigeria. And the reasons are simply because of false or poor data collection non compliance”.
While noting that efforts are seriously on to change the narrative for good, Dr Umar appealed to all to collaborate with the state government towards ending the menace of polio reoccurrence in the state.
UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Mrs Christian Munduate appealed to all to see polio as a preventable ailment but not curable.
According to her, despite tremendous efforts being put in place by the state government towards total eradication of the virus, it is however disheartening that local governments with in the metropolis, (Sokoto North and Sokoto South) are still not give the needed cooperation.
She added that fake finger print marking by some parents and even the vaccinators remained another great threat to polio eradication efforts in Sokoto state.
Addressing the gathering in his opening remarks, Sokoto State Deputy Governor and chairman of the state Task Force on Polio and Routine Immunization Exercise, Dr. Idris Gobir, stressed that the already established state standing committee and sub-committees at the local governments and wards levels will be asked to redouble their efforts towards total eradication of polio in Sokoto.
Dr Gobir re-affirmed that Sokoto has the personnel, resources and capacity to end polio permanently.
He therefore appealed to all participants at critical stakeholders in the state to join hands with the state government to ensure that Sokoto becomes polio free.
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Mohammad Sa:ad Abubakar 111 represented by the district head of Wurno, Alhaji Kabir Cigari Alhassan appealed to all to see themselves as ambassadors of free polio society campaign.
The Sultan, further, urged religious and traditional leaders in the state to dispel and correct any false narrative that polio vaccine is not safe, adding, it is safe and good for a healthy future of any generation.
Participants at the Accelerating progress towards eradication of polio virus in Sokoto state also included, the state House of Assembly Health Committee Chairman, Commissioner for Local government and chieftaincy affairs, state ALGON chairman, and many others who collectively indicated their commitment towards achieving a polio zero free state.
