President Buhari Signs Updated Commitment On Polio Eradication.[Pictures]

President Muhammdu Buhari on Wednesday signed an Updated Abuja Commitment on Polio Eradication.Buhari signed the agreement at an event witnessed by the Co-founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates; the Founder, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari; and some other state governors.

The event was held inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Buhari assured Nigerians that failure would not be an option for him on the issue of preventable diseases.He described the successful de-listing of Nigeria as a polio endemic country as an enormous achievement for the country that should not be understated.This, he added, clearly shows that through sheer commitment, hard work and having the right partnerships, the nation can succeed.

While thanking Gates for his continued commitment and support to various health care causes in Nigeria, especially through maternal and child healthcare programmes, the President assured him of government’s support for the betterment of all Nigerians, especially the vulnerable ones.

He said: “I would like to assure you that the Federal Government will continue to provide strong oversight and funding for polio programme.“To this effect, we will reconstitute an expanded Presidential Task Force on Polio, which will include the 36 state governors, to sustain the successes of our current polio eradication activities such as surveillance and routine immunisation programmes.“I am pleased to inform you that the six states mostly impacted by polio have signed an MoU on routine immunisation.

“This MOU is a commitment by the state governments, namely Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto and Yobe, to strengthen primary health care system through community sensitisation and support programmes.”Gates noted that since his first visit to Nigeria in 2009, the government had showed commitment to the eradication of the disease.He said: “We should not lose focus on the goal.“We need to keep polio in the front burner so that Nigeria can be certified polio free.“You have fought the disease for over for two decades, you can achieve it.“I will be back to celebrate with the total eradication with you.”The Updated Abuja Commitment is aimed at ensuring that state governors lead local government chairmen as well as religious and traditional leaders to respond to the challenge of polio eradication.