Nigeria Partners Chad In Tackling
Polio
Rafat Salami, Abuja
Nigeria
and the Republic of Chad are to increase collaboration in
tackling the Wild Polio Virus.
Nigeria’s minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin
told voice of Nigeria that the collaboration was part of ongoing
border synchronisation activities between Nigeria and all its
neighbours.
Professor Osotimehin said the collaborations were to ensure that
both countries administer vaccines on vulnerable children at the
same time, thereby reducing the chances of cross border
transmission.
While attributing the success of Nigeria’s gains in polio
eradication to collaboration, he said there was the need to
further increase activities to ensure the virus is eliminated
from West Africa.
Professor Osotimehin said ninety percent of global reduction in
polio is attributable to the success in Nigeria, the only
country in West Africa where the disease is still endemic.
Cross border movements and transmission of the virus have been
reported in the past.
Williams/Yinka
