Two fresh infections of
wild polio virus have emerged in Borno state, threatening Nigeria's progress
toward a polio free status.
Daily
Trust report continues:
It
was due to be declared polio free by the World Health Organization if it made
it to July 24 next year without a new case.
The
last known infection was July 2014.
Health
authorities have been silent about the new cases in Gwarzo and Jere local
government areas of Borno.
There
had been concern about children on camps for displaced people in Borno missing immunization
as Nigeria struggled to prevent a flare up.
The
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) which coordinates immunization
nationwide cannot respond. Instead officials directed questions to the Federal
Ministry of Health.
Health
minister Isaac Adewole also declined speaking to Daily Trust, when approached
at Family Planning Stakeholders Meeting at Aso Villa Banquet Hall Thursday
morning.
It
is uncertain how the WHO will handle the resurgence.
WHO
and Rotary, which co-funds polio eradication, warned against relaxing
surveillance and maintaining commitment.
Last
week, a number of civil society organizations raised concern about ₦12.8
billion immunization fund yet to be released only four months to the end of
2016.
"We
have less than five months to the end of 2016 yet nothing has been released for
immunization, for procurement of vaccines and other logistics," said Dr
Aminu Magashi, project director for Community Health and Research Initiative,
part of the coalition Partnership for Advocacy for Child and Family Health,
PACFaH.
"As a nation we cannot continue to depend on development partners to buy the vaccines we need in the country yet we have funds for such purposes in our budget."
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