President Muhammadu Buhari has written world leaders and partners to appreciate their support towards helping Nigeria attain the Wild Polio Virus, WPV free status, pledging that his administration would sustain the momentum and strengthen the primary health care system.
The President also commended his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who is Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication, and his team for making Nigeria proud and saving her children from the scourge of poliomyelitis.
The President in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu noted that the declaration of Nigeria as a Wild Polio free country is the result of effective coordination of the Nigerian Polio eradication programme through the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunisation, Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The President charged the Taskforce under the leadership of Vice President Osinbajo to sustain the coordination especially in mobilising State Governors to provide the needed oversight and resources to sustain the momentum and strengthen the primary health care system by improving routine immunisation, maternal, newborn and child health services.
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In a letter he wrote to Professor Osinbajo, the President urged the team to sustain the momentum as he looks forward to leveraging on the polio infrastructure and experience to drive other health interventions.
The President also wrote a separate letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, thanking the European country for decades of financial support to Polio Eradication Initiative, PEI programme in Nigeria through KfW.
The Nigerian Leader also thanked traditional and religious leaders, who through their leadership built community trust for the polio programme thereby increasing acceptance and ensuring all eligible children are reached with the polio vaccine.
Specifically, he wrote to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad III, the leadership of Jama’atul-Nasirl Islam, JNI and the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
The President also wrote separate letters of appreciation to Bill Gates; the European Union; Director-General, World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Director, U.S Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund, David Malpass, President, World Bank Group and John Barsa, Acting Administrator, United States Agency for International Development.
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Others are, Global Affairs Canada, Professor Shinichi Kitaoka, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the International President, Rotary International.
President Buhari also appreciated the support of the Chairman Aliko Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote, Sir Emeka Offor and Governor Kayode Fayemi, in his capacity as the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
