South East breaking News
The Abia State government through the Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has disclosed that in 2024 alone, 77 (cVPV2) cases were detected across 14 States in Nigeria and Abia State has not recorded any case of it since December, 2023.
Speaking during a Press Conference to mark the 2024 World Polio Day, held in Collaboration with the World Health Organisation at the State Headquarters of Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Umuahia, the Executive Secretary of the Agency Dr Kalu Ulu Kalu said over 1,172,822 children in Abia State had been vaccinated since the beginning of 2024.
He said the fight against polio has been a great task over a virus that can cause paralysis and death in a matter of days,adding that strong political commitment was crucial to the fight against polio.
He expressed appreciation to the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti , “WHO , UNICEF and other partners who joined forces in March and April 2024 to implement two rounds of outbreak Response in the State through a coordinated plan aimed at eradicating variant poliovirus” and called for more surveillance especially in underserved areas as well as accelerate response to any new detections and to scale up high-quality vaccination campaigns.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been focusing on the fight against the virus all over the nation and globally through awareness creation and immunization of children to ensure that every child is protected. Other activities lined up to mark the 2024 World Polio Day include a road walk against Polio and community sensitisation.
