Fashola, Amaechi, others call for fight against Polio

Posted by admin Governors, Headlines, Lagos, Rivers, State News Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday joined his 36 States counterparts under the aegis of the Governors’ Forum of Nigeria in sustaining the campaign against the spread of Polio nationwide, stressing that Lagos State could not afford to stop the campaign against the deadly disease now.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Quarterly Sensitization Programme on Eradication of Polio which was held at the Oshodi Sports Centre by Oshodi Local Government Secretariat added that new babies are daily born and therefore the immunization must continue to ensure that all children between the ages of 0 to five get the immunization.

Meanwhile, Rivers State governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has said that the crusade is an initiative of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) geared towards eliminating the polio scourge from the country.

The governor who spoke at the weekend in Port Harcourt said, “about a year ago, all the state governors in Nigeria signed an accord to create national awareness on the scourge and disability caused by poliomyelitis amongst our vulnerable children.

In another development, the Cross River State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has solicited the co-operation and support of religious and traditional rulers, civil society organizations as well as age grades and other stakeholders in the ongoing immunization exercise in the State.

Senator Imoke, who made the call in Calabar in a press statement signed by his Special Assistant Media/Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Omini Oden, to mark the sensitization of Nigerians on the need to collectively fight the scourge of polio meningitis in the country, added that polio eradication needs the support of all and sundry to succeed.

Also Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has reiterated his administration’s readiness to commit financial, human and material resources to the implementation of immunization activities and make them free for all children in the state.

The governor said this in his state-wide address on Polio Eradication, Routine Immunization and Primary Healthcare Services, in accordance with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s commitment.

It will be recalled that August 13 of every year has been declared by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum as Polio Eradication Day.

Senator Ajimobi said that his administration would continue to provide viable and sustainable primary healthcare system to improve on routine immunization and active surveillance.

“We are ready to back up our plan with adequate resources and committed political leadership,’’ he said.

-Tribunewp_posts