Zamfara State has recorded twenty-one cases of poliovirus in five local government areas of the state, which are the worst hit by banditry.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, disclosed this during a meeting with traditional rulers from hard-reached communities in Gusau, the state capital, convened by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, in collaboration with the Sultan Foundation For Peace and Development, Northern Traditional Leadership Committee on PHC Delivery Strategy.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who was represented by the Coordinator of the Sultan Foundation For Peace and Development, Emir of Argungu, Ismaila Mera, said from January to date, Nigeria has recorded fifty cases of poliovirus, while Zamfara State has twenty-one cases, which is the highest, due to security challenges that made it difficult for health workers to reach certain communities.
He observed that the cases recorded in Zamfara State are responsible for the outbreak of cases in 28 states of the federation, which informed this meeting with traditional rulers from the affected communities, to discuss how to stem the spread of the polio virus.
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The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCD, Dr Faisal Shuaib, represented by the Incident Manager of the National Polio Emergency Operation Centre, Abdulkadier Usman, promised that the agency will collaborate with security agencies, to tackle the polio virus in the hard-to-reach communities, to ensure it strengthens the health of children, through the polio vaccination.
The five local governments that are affected by the polio virus in Zamfara include Gusau, with seven cases; Maradun, with Six, Gummi, with five, Maru – two, and Bungudu, with one case.
One hundred and twenty-nine traditional rulers from troubled communities, representatives of the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, World Health Organisation, WHO, and other health partners were in attendance.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
