The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said that all eyes are on Nigeria on the eradication of polio during the last phase of the polio immunization campaign in the country.
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, the Chief of Bauchi Field Office, UNICEF, stated this when she paid an advocacy visit to the Gbong Gwom of Jos, Da Jacob Buba in his palace in Jos, Plateau state capital.
The UNICEF boss, who condoled with the Plateau state government over the death of some citizens some weeks ago, said “we are basically here for the forthcoming Polio campaign from 24th to 30th of April.
“This is to emphasise that this is the last year and opportunity for Nigeria to eradicate Polio."
"It is significant for us that every child is immunized during this campaign for Polio because the eyes of the whole world are now on Nigeria. This is one of the three countries that has to make efforts towards eradicating Polio,” she said.
Rafique expressed worry over the fact that Plateau state has five local government areas with high risk of polio as they have a high number of zero dose under 5 children.
She listed the LGAs to include Jos North, Jos South, Shendam, Quan Pan and Wase, saying that UNICEF needs the leadership of the royal father and commitment of every individual in order to reach the unreached children who had not been vaccinated before.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Health in the state, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, who acknowledged that the state has five LGAs that were hit hard by polio virus, said that Nigeria was one of the three countries that were left for the virus to be completely eradicated in the world.
“We have a big responsibility, one of the things we are trying to say is that you, as the head of the traditional institutions in the State, we are soliciting for mobilization of the traditional rulers so that we can actively participate in the upcoming programme, so that at the end of it all, our children would have been reached, immunization would have gone very far."
“Some of the LGAs mentioned have zero doses, which means, there are so many children that have never taken a dose of the vaccine and it is not very good."
"We are going to join hands together with the traditional institutions, the other stakeholders that are also involved are the Councils Chairpersons, when the campaign kicks off, we are coming to you again so that you will be with us, if possible demonstrating."
"There are a lot of cultural differences that a lot of people try to shy away from immunization, but when they see prominent people like you taking the lead, they will oblige," he added.
Baamlong lauded UNICEF for providing the vaccines that would be administered as well as the resources to ensure that the campaign would be successful.
In his remarks, Da Jacob Buba, appreciated the UNICEF boss for commiserating with the state over the loss of lives of some of its citizens.
He also lauded UNICEF officials for leaving their own countries to work on Nigeria so as to make Nigerians enjoy health benefits of health.
“Let me inform you that we already have one of our traditional rulers who is representing us in the Task Force Committee on Primary Healthcare all over Northern Nigeria.
"It is very unfortunate that Plateau is one of Polio high risk states in the country but I assure you that we will overcome the situation by working with all of you accordingly”. He assured.
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