Abuja, 27 February, 2025 – The World Well being Group (WHO) has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting Nigeria’s authorities in strengthening Major Well being Care (PHC) and addressing well being system points by implementing revolutionary initiatives. This dedication aligns with the nation’s aim to eradicate all kinds of polioviruses by the top of 2025.

WHO Nation Consultant in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, mentioned on the just lately concluded First Quarter Evaluation Assembly of the Northern Conventional Leaders Committee (NTLC) on PHC Supply in Abuja.

Earlier in his opening comment, the Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, had appreciated the council’s tenacity in mobilizing their communities and overseeing polio vaccination campaigns in the direction of eradication of the illness within the nation. 

An pressing clarion name
Professor Pate urged the normal leaders to not relaxation on their oars. He emphasised the pressing must eradicate the circulating variant poliovirus kind 2 (cVPV2) transmission within the nation by December 2025.

Professor Pate known as on the normal leaders to double their efforts by leveraging their affect to strengthen group belief and participation in immunization efforts.

“This council has remained probably the most steadfast major healthcare construction in Nigeria, Africa, and presumably the world. For 16 consecutive years, you have got convened quarterly conferences with out fail. 

Delivering his goodwill message, Dr Mulombo additionally set the tone with a name to motion, lauding the Nigerian authorities’s and conventional leaders’ unwavering dedication and underscoring their important function in championing the battle in opposition to polio in Nigeria. 

“Whereas 2024 has been a difficult 12 months for Nigeria’s polio program, we have now the chance to show issues round, and now could be the perfect time to behave urgently and decisively to finish cVPV2 within the nation. WHO is dedicated to supporting Nigeria in addressing the challenges, even within the face of geopolitical complexities”, mentioned Dr Mulombo.

The Nation Consultant additionally pledged WHO’s assist in fast-tracking the accreditation of the Ibadan polio laboratory whereas saying that the laboratory is totally accredited to conduct polio sequencing.

The polio laboratory in Ibadan, established in 1993, is likely one of the iconic polio laboratories in Nigeria that may detect, establish, and promptly report wild polioviruses (WPV), cVPVD2, in addition to different enteroviruses that could be current in medical and environmental specimens.

Tackling Challenges with Renewed Dedication
Regardless of the progress made, Nigeria continues to be reporting instances of cVPVD2. 

Dr Muyi Aina, Govt Director of the Nationwide Major Healthcare Growth Company (NPHCDA),  identified among the challenges deterring the nation from attaining its polio eradication aim mentioned, “For too lengthy, we have now struggled with points like noncompliance, vaccine hesitancy, missed youngsters, safety considerations, insufficient routine immunization protection, knowledge falsification and malnutrition. 

We have to push past our limitations and make sure that no little one is left unvaccinated. We want the assist of the NTLC members, as group engagement is essential to attaining success. We should rewrite the story this 12 months,” mentioned Dr Muyi.

Conventional Leaders Vow to Strengthen Efforts
In his comment, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, the Emir of Argungu, who double because the NTLC chair, expressed gratitude to the federal government and companions for his or her continued assist. 
The Emir known as on his fellow conventional leaders to collaborate with non secular figures and group influencers to drive vaccination demand.

Elevating considerations over the suboptimal efficiency of routine immunization within the nation’s North Central and North West geopolitical areas in 2024, he mentioned, “The time has come for us to finish polio as soon as and for all. Each unvaccinated little one is a danger to all youngsters in our communities. We should strengthen new child and defaulter monitoring programs to make sure each little one receives the mandatory vaccines. We should play an lively function in planning and supervising immunization periods,” the Emir urged.

The Emir welcomed the strategic shifts launched by the federal government, together with elevated accountability, localized advocacy, improved knowledge integration, and synchronized marketing campaign efforts. 

A Unified Effort to Finish Polio
The NTLC’s quarterly conferences function an important platform for reviewing progress and tackling challenges in polio eradication, routine immunization, maternal and little one well being, and first healthcare service supply.

The most recent gathering featured displays on the state of Nigeria’s polio program, updates on routine immunization, maternal and new child well being, and the introduction of the rubella vaccine. Individuals additionally mentioned earlier assembly resolutions, with numerous companions delivering goodwill messages.