The Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee has cautioned Nigerian parents against abandoning child immunization, even though the country was certified polio-free by the World Health Organisation in 2020.
Committee Chairman, Dr Tunji Funsho, gave the advice on Saturday in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the World Polio Day, usually celebrated on Oct. 24 annually.
He advised that children should continued to be inoculated against the disease until the entire world is certified Wild Polio Virus-free.
He appealed to parents to make their children available for WPV vaccination.
“The World Polio Day was set aside originally to commemorate the birthday of the scientist who discovered the first polio vaccine in 1955. However, the current oral polio vaccine was developed in 1960.
“Another major reason for organising and celebrating World Polio Day is to continue our advocacy effort in ensuring that we immunise every child below age five against the poliovirus and be protected against WPV,” he said.
He called for enhanced funding of primary healthcare facilities as 75 per cent of health issues are taken care of there.
He also called on Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) not to get tired of the polio vaccination programme.
