24 July 2007 - On Saturday, February 24, 2007, the Epidemiological Unit, Sokoto State Ministry of Health hosted 71 religious leaders. It marked the beginning of a new phase in the collaboration of key stakeholders to interrupt transmission of the wild polio virus in the state. The atmosphere was businesslike and cordial.

Garba Kadi, Chairman of the State Immunization Team who coordinated proceedings, said it was the first time key religious leaders came together in the state in such number and diversity. The session was a remarkably frank brainstorming session.

A number of challenges were raised by Sheikh Yusuf Yahaya Alibawa of the Izala Jos, Sheikh Mohammed Bello Tureta, Vice-Chairman of the Shariah Implementation Committee, Sheikh Farouq Yabo, Chairman of the Council of Ulama and Dr. Rufa’i Usman Isma’ila, Secretary of the Council of Islamiyya Schools. Some argued that the problem had been the non-involvement of the religious leaders, concerns were raised and addressed about the number of rounds, the non-availability of drugs at health facilities and inadequate social mobilization.

The 10-point communiqué was a lesson in consensus. It demonstrated how such meetings provide a platform for resolving existing doubts, and the willingness of all the leaders to openly identify with the programme. The clerics promised to address polio eradication and other childhood killer diseases, create awareness for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and disease surveillance, and advocate for governmental, private sector and community financial and logistic support for immunization activities.

The Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) held from March 1-4, was the first test of the new resolve of the clerics and other religious leaders who were not at the meeting. They were in the high risk local government areas (LGAs) in the state, participating in community dialogues and resolving cases of non-compliance. By March 29 – April 1 when the next IPDs held, the religious leaders were again on the field, this time with emphasis on the densely populated Sokoto North and Sokoto South LGAs.

With the Arabic and Islamic Board - a government coordinating body on religious matters which facilitated the engagement of the key Islamic clerics - since then becoming part of the State Team overseeing immunization activities, religious leaders in Sokoto now take the lead in engaging communities in an intensified effort to eradicate polio.