The Kano state government has reiterated its stance and commitment towards eradicating the polio virus in the state.
This was issued in a press statement by the public relations officer Ibrahim Abdullahi.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman State Taskforce Committee on Immunization, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam, made the reiteration while chairing the meeting of the committee at the Africa House, Kano Government House.
Comrade Abdussalam stated that people should understand that poliomyelitis is a virus that filth causes it which spreads rapidly to attack people, especially children beyond curable level if not curtailed on time.
H,e further asserted that scientific research in the Muslim world has proven that polio is a virus not caused by the spirits as being speculated, assuring that observing personal and environmental hygiene is the safest and protective way against contracting the disease.
The deputy governor averred that polio vaccine has been tested at various laboratories in many Muslim countries and found out that it contains nothing harmful, urging people to give maximum cooperation by allowing their children to be vaccinated whenever the campaign comes.
He emphasized that Kano state government is committed to the total eradication of the disease in the state as recorded in some years back when Nigeria is certified as polio free country, frowning that the case is gradually reversing due to the lack of routine immunization for some months by the past administration.
Comrade Abdussalam emphasized that trooping of strangers to Kano from neighbouring states and residing in various LGAs without knowing their vaccination status is another reason for the resurface of the polio in the state.
He then charged the LGA chairmen and district heads to work together to ensure the health status of the strangers settling in their respective areas in order to avoid infecting the state, saying that this will also help checkmate the insecurity bedeviling the northern Nigeria.
On his part, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammad Sanusi II, represented by Madakin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Nabahani, called on district, village, and ward heads of the 44 LGAs to fully participate in the exercise in order to achieve the target objectives.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf explained that Kano state is presently leading in the variant polio virus with 20 cases out of 60 in the whole country, hence the need for concerted effort of all stakeholders to get rid of the disease.
He lauded Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for approving the needed logistics for the successful conduct of the campaign and for giving special consideration in caring for his people.
In their separate remarks, the representatives of the World Health Organization, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, Global Immunization Division CDC/US and Global Polio Eradication Initiative commended the Kano state government for its commitment towards elimination of the polio virus and assured of their continued support to the healthcare system of the state.
