Ogun, Lagos Partner On Polio Eradication

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and his Ogun counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at the weekend said the two states will partner to kick out polio out of their states.

The governors, who led the war against polio at the third round of polio advocacy day campaign, lamented that although the two states have achieved polio-free status, the influx of people into them have compounded their efforts. In his address at the ceremony held at Ologogoro Akunde, a border community between the two states, Fashola said the concerted approach was a historic and unique collaboration, pointing out that the South West states have resolved to work together to fast-track the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.

Fashola said it was a national shame that of all the countries of the world, Nigeria alongside Pakistan, Afghanistan and India still had cases of polio, saying the advocacy campaign was endorsed by the Governors Forum.
He debunked rumours that the vaccines against the virus causing paralysis provided by the government were no longer effective for lack of storage facilities in the country and urged the parents to bring forward their children for immunization.

He appealed to private hospitals to also join hands with the government in its quest to eradicate polio in the country
Also speaking, Governor Ibikunle Amosun said the decision by governors to embark on advocacy campaign across the country underscored the urgent need to kick out the disease.

Amosun disclosed that for two years no cases of polio had been reported in Ogun, adding that there was need for leaders in other states to get serious with measures outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the dreadful and highly contagious disease.

The governor, who expressed optimism on the collaboration between the two states, urged the community leaders to intervene in the efforts of the government to get the children immunized by prevailing on their subject to make their children available for immunization.