November 22, 2014 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has advocated high level of hygienic practices as the only means to ensure complete eradication of wild polio virus in the country.
Fashola, who spoke at the formal launch of the anti- polio animated comic movie “The Polio” written by Olugbenga Kuye, stated that though there has been no cases of re-infection of polio in the last five years, samples of the virus have been seen in water bodies and soil tests indicating that hygiene level was still low.
He expressed regrets that such unsanitary habits as indiscriminate dumping of refuse in open places and open urination and defecation are still practiced in many communities across the nation, pointing out that this must stop if the country genuinely intends to put an end to the virus.
While attributing polio to poor hygiene and failure to take the immunization, Fashola urged residents to do away with all the myths attached to the disease adding that once they immunize their children against the disease; they will be able to fight the virus.
He said there is no polio in Lagos because health workers have taken the challenge headlong while the government remains committed to ensuring that the situation remains as it is.
He however, maintained that as long as other parts of the country have the virus and those infected could move from their location to Lagos underscores the need to remain vigilant.
According to him, although polio virus has vaccine it is still a problem to overcome since people have refused to accept answer which he said science has provided.
“Today, Ebola has no vaccine. We rose together simply because we all were afraid of Ebola. We did the right thing and we curtained Ebola which had no vaccine and cure.
“There is no basis for a disease that already has a vaccine to continue to trouble us”, the governor said.
Earlier, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina described polio vaccines as very safe and well tolerated in children and enjoined all to ensure that their children are administered with the vaccines during the scheduled periods for the campaigns, adding that Lagos State has attained and surpassed the 80 percent coverage level on polio Immunization since 2013.
In his address, Chairman Nigeria National Polioplus Committee, Dr. Tunji Funsho, commended the Lagos State Government for successfully stopping the virus for over five years now. Funsho appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that their children always take party in all ongoing polio immunization since it is never too much.
