Nigeria remains the only country in Africa still suffering from polio – Minister

Minister of State for Health,  Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Friday, said though Nigeria remained the only country in Africa still suffering from wild polio virus, the country won’t be last to eradicate the virus in the world.

The minister stated this at the flag off ceremony of the monthly outbreak response  immunisation campaign against the virus in Jalingo.

Osagie explained that Nigeria was on the verge of getting out of the menace of polio before the unfortunate of the virus in Borno state.

“The outbreak in Borno is understandable owing to the security challenge in the state.

“It worrisome to note that Nigeria remains the only country in Africa still suffering from wide polio virus.

“Considering the fact that Taraba falls within the region of the outbreak, this exercise is timely and I commend the state government for this,” he said.

Ehanire noted that the Federal government was totally committed to tackling the menace in order to remove the country from the list of the few countries still suffering from the virus.

He appealed to the parents to allow the immunization officers immunize their children, saying, the vaccine had not side effects.

Taraba governor, Darius Ishaku in a remarks said the state was doing everything possible to ensure that the children were safe.

Ishaku explained that the state government was mindful of the fact that people were migrating from Borno, where four cases were recorded to Taraba on daily basis and was doing everything possible to prevent any outbreak.

According to him, the state government as part of its rescue mission will build one functional primary health care units in each of the three senatorial zones as response to the Borno outbreak.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Haruna Manu, Ishaku directed all the local council Chairmen in the state to pay due attention to the immunization exercise.

National Mirror reports that the minister later commissioned Amenity Ward and Labour Room at the Federal Medical Center, built by the Medical Director, Dr.  Inusa Wiza.