I will not hand over polio to the next government – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday pledged that
his administration will do everything possible to
eradicate Wild Polio Virus in Nigeria next year saying
that he will not hand over polio to the in coming
government in 2015.
Speaking yesterday at an award ceremony for best
performing state governors from the six geopolitical
zones on the eradication of polio, President Jonathan
also called on political leaders not to relegate the
fight against the eradication of polio to the
background because of campaign for the next
elections.
He particularly commended Bill Gates of the Bill and
Melinda Gates foundation for his efforts in
eradicating polio in Africa and announced the
conferment of the award of the Commander of the
Federal Republic (cfr) on him as an appreciation from
the government and people of Nigeria.
The president stated: "apart from helping us in fight
against Polio and provision of life saving
commodities, Bill Gates is also assisting us in
agriculture.
"Like Dangote mentioned there is no reason we
should not eradicate polio by 2014. Let me assure
you that the federal government is totally committed
to eradicating polio. We promise that we will work
hard because we don't want to handover polio to
another government in 2015.
"With the support of all stakeholders present here I
believe we will succeed in our commitment to
eradicate polio.
"I charge you all to be so committed especially as the
elections are coming. In fact from the analysis I was
just briefed now I'm really surprised that in 2011
there was lapse and it was attributed to the
elections, that during campaigns for elections we the
politicians think more about winning the elections
and forget about other things. I charge you all that
we must work together to make sure that the
2014/2015 will not create any kind of gap in our
commitment to eradicate polio.
"In our local government and states that have
suffered polio, it should be part of our campaign, it
should rather be part of our campaign instead of our
election to create a problem, our elections should
enhance our commitment.
"We should all feel ashamed that we are being
accused of exporting polio to neighbouring
countries" the president.
He commended the traditional rulers for their roles in
helping the government meet its target of
immunising Children against Polio
For those that won the award, the president charged
them not to rest on their oars but to ensure that nore
is done to justify their awards.
In his speech, the Minister of Health Professor
Onyebuchi Chukwu said as at 2012 the whole of
northern Nigeria was being infected by reported
cases of Wild Polio but as at now only three states
kano, Borno and Yobe are of the greatest concerns.
He said since November last year there has been no
reported cases of transmission of the Type A polio
various adding that "we have have reduced it by 50
per cent though we have recently had 51 cases in
Borno, Kano, Yobe and Bauchi states.
He listed the challenges facing the the fight against
polio as non-accessibility to children due to insecurity
and accountability which necessitated the
involvement of Local Government chairmen.
He said in order to sidestep the security challenge in
Borno state " we have formed permanent health
team, the hit and run strategy during the period of
calm to reach children with successive doses over
one to two days bursts; Intensified routine
immunization with free MNCH services and
essentials drugs; Firewalling Borno/Yobe borders
with health teams and health camps at borders,
checkpoints and nomadic camps in all LGAs".
He urged the President to direct rapid information
sharing between JTF and the programme on
accessibility/security in security-compromised areas.
The governors that won the award were Captain Idris
Wada of Kogi for North Central, Dr Olusegun Mimiko
of Ondo state for the south West, Kashim Shettima of
Borno for North East, Liyel Imoke for south south and
Peter Obi of Anambra for south East.