Abuja, 01 March 2015 - With Nigeria taking the world one step closer to reaching eradication after interrupting the poliovirus for over 19 months, State Governors across the six geo-political zones personally launched, supervised and monitored the quality of the first National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) since the World Health Organization (WHO) formally removed Nigeria from list of polio endemic countries on 26 September, 2015.

The nationwide campaign conducted across the 36 states from 27 February to 01 March, 2016 to reach every child with the life-saving oral polio vaccine (OPV), also embodies the sustainable development goals’ emphasis on equity in healthcare.

Launching the NIPDs in Owerri on 26 February, 2016, Governor Rochas Okorocha summarized the commitment of his counterparts elsewhere in Kano, Sokoto, Edo and Lagos states when he stated that “we are here to save the lives of our children. We are here to sing a song of liberty. The children cannot speak for themselves; therefore we must speak for them and save their lives”.

Recently, state governors pledged to continue with the Resolutions of the 2009 ‘Abuja Commitment’, following a meeting with His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Governors' Forum, in the presence of Mr. Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chair, Dangote Foundation on 20 January 2016 at the Presidential villa in Abuja. One of the indicators of the Abuja Commitment is the personal involvement of state governors in support of polio eradication and routine immunization (RI) such as supervision of immunization activities.

Monitoring and supervision for high quality immunization services

Monday, 29 February 2016 was initially an ordinary day for vaccination teams in Niger State except for the teams in Tudun Wada North Ward of Chanchaga local government area. As they settled in for immunization activities, the Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, visited to supervise NIPDs activities in the area, including inspection of health camps sites.

The Governor explained that the visit was meant to publicly demonstrate “unalloyed support for polio eradication as well as show strong political will towards implementing the ‘Abuja Commitments’. He pledged and committed his administration to five actions aimed at ensuring a polio-free Nigeria, strengthening RI and improving Primary Health care. The five actions include; participating actively in progress review against the revised Abuja Commitments, facilitating swift response to any outbreaks within the state, providing strong leadership for polio eradication and RI activities in the state, maintaining the state’s polio free status and promoting the concept of primary health care under one roof.

During the supervisory visit, the governor personally administered OPV to some eligible children. He also called on parents and caregivers to ensure that no child was missed and urged all stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, to continue to support the eradication drive in the state.

Building resilience through 2017

The combined activities of the governors which demonstrate strong political will for implementing the ‘Abuja Commitments’ towards certification in 2017, will undoubtedly sustain the momentum towards a polio free Nigeria.

The conviction was echoed by Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole at the end of the Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa recently, when he noted that “immunization efforts must be sustained to build resilience against polio across the continent so that it cannot return”.

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Below:

01. HE Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State vaccinating a child

02. HE Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State vaccinating a baby during NIPDs

03. Governor of Niger vaccinating a child during a field supervisory visit