Kano, Nigeria 09 June 2015 - Newly sworn-in Governors of Kano and Sokoto, Nigeria’s very high risk polio states, have promised to surpass the gains recorded by their  predecessors  in a renewed commitment to stamp out the paralyzing disease from the traditional ‘polio sanctuaries’.

The latest case of wild polio virus (WPV) in Nigeria was reported from Sumaila LGA of Kano state on 24 July 2014 while Sokoto had circulating vaccine derived polioviruses in the environment in 2014.

Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Kano State Governor on 4 June 2015, barely a week after he assumed office, convened the state Task Force on Immunization meeting with all the 44 local government chairmen (LGA) and other top government functionaries, to set the stage for achieving a polio-free Kano in the coming weeks.

Governor Ganduje, while appreciating the successes recorded thus far, however cautioned that “complacency is not a luxury at our disposal especially now that we are at the threshold of the high transmission season for the disease”.

To further demonstrate his resolve towards the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), the new governor disclosed that during his tenure, “there will be timely release of funds for immunization activities” and embarked on  high-level monitoring by supervising the LGA cold stores, health camps and even house-house teams every day of the campaign, including personally chairing evening review meetings in some LGAs while the deputy governor conducted similar activities in other LGAs in the state.

Dr Ganduje charged programme implementers to redouble efforts to ensure that  all eligible children were reached and enjoined all LGA chairmen to do same by actively participating in planning and implementation of IPDs

Committing to PEI with the same tone, the Sokoto State deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu who indicated the preparedness of the new administration to strengthen primary healthcare (PHC) in the state in order to “drastically reduce mortality and morbidity amongst our people” added that “we will not only join the national call for the purpose of participating in the PEI but to demonstrate a renewed commitment in the global efforts to present to future generations, a society free of poliomyelitis”.

Alhaji Aliyu who made the promise during the flag-off ceremony of the June 2015 IPDs in Sokoto, underscored the support received from WHO and development partners in the state which resulted in the tremendous successes recorded with PEI. He however appealed to LGA councils to take a cue from state government in adopting PHC as the cornerstone of their health care programmes. The Sokoto state government also released counterpart funds to assist with, among others, campaign operations and procurement of pluses to increase OPV uptake.

Speaking at the occasion on behalf of PEI partners, Dr Pascal Mkanda, the WHO  Immunization, Vaccines and Emergencies cluster lead in Nigeria, thanked the new administration for the renewed commitment which will dispel worries of sustaining the gains made so far, as there is still more work to be done to cross the finishing line in 2017.

It could be recalled that the 29th  Expert Review Committee meeting conducted from 21-22 January, 2015 was concerned that the general elections of 2015 and the transition from one government to the other might reverse the gains achieved in PEI in Nigeria. However, the determination shown by the new governors, so far, in line with the goals of PEI, unwavering commitment of political leaders and sustained funding by government at various levels to ensure that Nigeria is declared polio free by 2017 at the earliest can be assured.

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For more information, please contact:

·    Technical contacts:

Dr Pascal Mkanda; Tel: +234 803 402 2140; Email: mkandap [at] who.int
Dr Suleiman Abdullahi; Tel: +234 803 701 6551; Email: abdullahis [at] who.int
·    Media contact:

Ms Charity Warigon; Tel: +234 810 221 0093; Email: warigonc [at] who.int
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Below:

01. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano immunizing a child during the June 2015 IPDs

02. Sokoto state Deputy Governor Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu delivering a speech to flag-off the June 2015 IPDs

03. Dr Pascal Mkanda delivering partners'goodwill message in Sokoto