By; DAHIRU SULEIMAN, Dutse
Jigawa State has been certified polio-free state in the past 10 years by indices of the World Health Organization WHO.
This was expressed by the Executive Secretary Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Kabir Ibrahim Aliyu on the occasion of this year’s World Polio Day which is marked annually on October 24, in providing an opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world, and to honor the unwavering commitment of those on the frontline of the fight to eradicate polio.
He said this progress is admirable and has safeguarded millions of children and their families from this crippling virus.
Polio as he stated, is a virus that may cause paralysis and is easily preventable by the polio vaccine.
“The virus is transmitted through contaminated water or food, or contact with an infected person,” he informed.
As the theme of this year implies,“World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children”, it kicked off in Jigawa State with a press conference with the executive secretary Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr. Kabir Ibrahim Aliyu to commemorate the day.
“Since the landmark resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio was adopted in 1988 at the 41st World Health Assembly, global efforts have achieved more than 99.9% decrease in polio cases. As many as 20 million children have been spared disability and are walking today.
“Two of the three strains of wild poliovirus (Type 2 and Type 3) have been certified as eradicated, and in 2020, the African continent was certified as free of indigenous wild polio,” he said.
The executive secretary said the state has been certified as a polio-free state for the past 10 years by the World Health Organization (WHO).
But according to him, the fighting is still in top gear as the virus is transmitted through contaminated water or food, or contact with an infected person, which can be transported from another country.
He said this progress is admirable and has safeguarded millions of children and their families from this crippling virus.
“However, detection of new outbreaks, including in areas where polio was believed to have been eradicated, is a stark reminder that if we do not deliver on our promise to eradicate all forms of polio, everywhere, no child is safe anywhere,” he charged.
Dr. Kabir Ibrahim said the state government is always committed along with development partners to ensuring that children are safe from this killer disease.
He said other diseases like meningitis, yellow fever, COVID-19, vitamin A intake, nutrition, and hepatitis types among other killer diseases, are among the priority vaccinations that are always taking place in Jigawa State.
On routine immunization, the executive secretary said about 50 per cent is covered in Jigawa, explaining that N4,050,000 million is spent every month on the Masaki Nutrition Programme, in which 150,000 Naira is spent in each local government area of the state.
