Nigeria’s Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole on Wednesday attributed the resurgence of wild polio virus in the country to insecurity in the North East.
Nigeria’s hope for a polio free certification in 2017 by the World Health Organization, suffered a major setback as two new cases of wild polio virus were discovered in Borno State last week.
The Health Minister at a press conference in Abuja says the resurgence of polio was never as a result of government’s complacency as adequate funding was provided for immunization of children.
According to him, insecurity in the North East made it impossible for health workers to access some villages in Jere and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State, where the recent cases were discovered.
He, however, outlined government’s immediate response to the outbreak which include disbursement of funds meant for immunisation in the 2016 budget.
An emergency team has been constituted to check the recent outbreak.
Professor Adewole said children in the affected LGAs would be given three rounds of immunisation to contain the situation.
He added that international organisations have also expressed their willingness to help check the spread of polio to other parts of the states. (Channels TV)
•Photo shows Prof. Adewole.
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