Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, have vowed to rally traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders behind the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) to end the new cases of circulating variant polio virus.
The governor and Sultan made the vow, yesterday, during the Renewed Advocacy Campaigns against Poliovirus led by the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina, following the worries of the rise in the new cases of the virus in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.
The four-day advocacy campaign against polio virus was embarked upon by NPHCDA, World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Sultan Foundation, Dangote Foundation, Solino and other development partners in the three states.
Lawal said his administration had embarked on vigorous strengthening of the state primary healthcare system, blocking financial leakages and capacity building of health care personnel to ensure total eradication of polio in the three states.
He also stated that he was spearheading a strategic security meeting of the three states governors and promised to use the platform to engineer collective action against the rising cases of polio virus in the states.
The governor commended the concerted efforts of NPHCDA and development partners while also commissioning the new polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Gusau.
On his part, the Sultan emphasised the strategic role of traditional and religious leaders and described them as the best institutions positioned to help win the war against polio because they are closer and more trusted by the people.
He commended the efforts of the NPHCDA executive director and development partners, just as he assured them 100 per cent support.
Earlier, Aina said his agency and development partners had emplaced strategic plans, such as enumeration of unvaccinated children, strengthening PHC system and supporting state governments to provide some basic amenities in vaccine hesitant communities.
He also listed vigorous sensitisation campaigns to ensure eradication of the polio virus this year.
Aina thanked the governor and the Sultan for their strong leadership roles and commitment towards total eradication of the Circulating Variant Polio Virus.
