Dr. Idowu Audu, the Deputy Incident Manager of the National Polio Emergency Operations, revealed on Saturday that Nigeria accounts for 70 percent of the world’s polio vaccine consumption, yet the country has not achieved significant progress in eradicating the virus.
Speaking at the Third Quarter Review/Engagement Meeting of the Kwara State Traditional Leaders’ Council Committee on Health in Ilorin, Audu lamented the resurgence of polio infections among children, particularly in Northern states, with Zamfara State reporting a staggering 35 percent prevalence of the virus. He attributed the ongoing challenges in polio eradication to widespread non-compliance, stating, “Non-compliance cases are buried and hidden. These are some of the problems that disrupt vaccine programmes in the country.”
Audu urged traditional leaders to support government efforts in improving routine vaccinations for polio, measles, and whooping cough. He emphasized the need for community involvement in vaccine initiatives.
Dr. Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, highlighted the importance of collaboration between traditional institutions and stakeholders. Represented by Dr. Michael Oguntoye, she noted that trained healthcare workers were instrumental in implementing vaccine programs in the state. Elelu appealed to parents to ensure their children receive essential vaccinations, despite facing challenges from resistant individuals.
In a related address, Ademola Enikanselu, Programme Officer of the Chigari Foundation in Kwara, called on traditional leaders to actively monitor vaccine coverage and report any barriers to effective immunization in their communities. He stressed the importance of tracking progress and identifying areas needing improvement to enhance vaccination efforts.