President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians that his administration will ensure that the country is certified Polio Free in 2017.
Buhari said this during a meeting with governors of polio-vulnerable states and members of the High-Level Advocacy Group.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari urged all Nigerians to collaborate with the Federal government in order to eradicate polio in the country.
Buhari said “I want to reaffirm the commitment of the Federal Government to sustain the gains and momentum to enable Nigeria achieve certification by 2017. I’m therefore inviting you to join me in actualising this pledge as experts have cautioned that the progress we have made in the polio eradication efforts is still very fragile and that there is the risk of gains reversal if we don’t sustain this great effort and allow complacency to set in.
“As you’re aware, the fact that we have not had any case of polio for over a year now, does not mean that we are polio free. It’s just one of the milestones on the path to being polio-free. I understand that for Nigeria to be certified polio free, we have to sustain this zero polio case status, strengthen surveillance in order to detect quickly any case of polio anywhere in the country, improve routine immunisation coverage and provide the needed human and material resources.
“Between now and 2017, we must ensure that we continue to build confidence in our people to present their children and wards for immunization. We also need to interface regularly with our LGA chairmen to ensure that there is no complacency.
“We must make Nigeria Polio free in 2017. We must put all our efforts to achieve this milestone for the sake of our children, future generations and the over-all health and well being of the nation.”