The battle against the crippling disease can be won – with concerted efforts
Today is World Polio Day. Unfortunately, we cannot be said to be any closer to ridding our country of this devastating disease caused by a virus which invades the nervous system and often causes irreversible paralysis. It is a disease which can strike at any age but mainly affects children under five. Yet while major funders and actors in the Polio Eradication Initiative strive to help the country surmount the virus, there is a general lack of ownership among major local actors and stakeholders in several communities in the country.
It is indeed noteworthy that beyond the rhetoric of government officials at practically all levels, there is still an urgent need to mobilise all the critical stakeholders in the bid to rid our country of the disease.
Several factors undermine the country’s ability to emulate other parts of the world, except Afghanistan and Pakistan, in interrupting the polio virus. One, the violence in the north and consequent insecurity is curtailing the activities of the vaccinators who move from house to house to deliver the life-saving vaccinations.
As a result of this, many people, particularly children, under the age of five, are not immunised. Two, cultural and religious factors have become serious impediments in reaching millions of the children. To compound the situation, some of the violence-prone states are often reporting new cases of polio victims. Yet as long as a single child remains infected with polio, unvaccinated children all over the world are at risk.
This is evident in the May 2013 report of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The report states: “Vital to success in Nigeria is the strength of commitment at Local Government Area (LGA) level and the personal qualities of LGA Chairmen. It is quite clear to all observers that in the majority of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs, major improvements are being achieved. However, the contrast with the relatively small number of LGAs where performance has stagnated could not be starker.
In those areas, it is vitally important for the leadership of the Nigerian Programme to hold to account those key local officials whose priorities clearly lie elsewhere than with the Polio Programme….”
Unfortunately majority of non-performing LGAs are based in Northern Nigeria where the problem and need is highest. According to UNICEF, most of the states pay lips service to their public commitment. They are hardly present during campaigns and do not attend ceremonies to gain public attention to the series of immunisation activities that help save the lives of children of the electorate. This has to change.
Nigeria has made progress this year towards putting an end to polio. But the next six months – the traditional “low season” for polio – are critical to Nigeria’s efforts to change history and end polio.
Statistics from relevant agencies have shown that the country is on the right track to stop polio transmission as it recorded 52% drop in polio cases, 63% reduction in vaccine rejection while the number of states with ongoing circulation of the virus is down from 11 to nine during the same time last year.
Relevant government agencies at the federal, state and council levels need to wake up to their duty to sustain the continued progress this year. Traditional and religious leaders should take ownership and lead their subjects aright while stakeholders should not relent in their efforts to have inclusive strategies that enhance child survival and allay the widespread fear and misinformation among the populace.
On this World Polio Day, let’s unite to make this a truly national campaign. Let’s work together to make Nigeria the next polio-free country in the world. We did it once for smallpox; we can do it again for polio.
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