Nigeria News

Since the beginning of the year 2014, Kebbi State in North Western Nigeria has been experiencing an outbreak of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM). Laboratory tests have shown that the Neisseria meningitides Type C serogroup is circulating. As of week 12, 2014, a total of 288 cases reported with 43 death (Case Fatality Rate, CFR=14.9); 36 cases have been confirmed positive, notably in Jega, Aliero, Gwandu, Augie, Suru and Zuru LGAs.

The Honourable Minister of Health, Professor C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu, had in the presence of the WHO Country Representative Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, hosted a Ministerial Media Conference to mark the 2014 World Health Day with the theme: ‘Small bite, Big threat’, focusing on preventing Vector-borne diseases.

The Journalists Initiative on Immunization against Polio (JAP) has strengthened collaboration with the WHO Kaduna state office to mobilize the support of religious and traditional leaders as well as other opinion moulders with the capacity to influence social decisions, in order to fight intractable non-compliance to polio  immunization in very high risk Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Polio supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) have been met with stiff resistance in 478 quranic (Tsangaya) schools in the security-compromised state of Borno due to an array of reasons which deduced Immunization as a western ploy to check the growth of muslim population and fear that non-compliant parents may withdraw their children from schools that allow immunization

The Representative of the World Health Organization, Nigeria, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz has reaffirmed the commitment of WHO to support the on-going polio eradication initiative in Nigeria. Dr. Vaz gave this assurance during a courtesy call paid to him by the Chair of The Rotary Foundation, Mr. Dong Kurn Lee and other Rotary International dignitaries.

In 2013, Nasarawa and Niger States in the North Central region of Nigeria commonly referred to as the ‘Middle Belt’, given their geographical location on the map, had importation of the wild polio virus (WPV) each from endemic states after several months of stopping transmission. Since then, political commitment in the area has been rekindled with relentless personal commitment of State governors to protect states in the axis from re-infection through high-profile activities to create visibility for the Polio Eradication Initiative.

The immediate feedback from the just concluded 27th Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio and Routine Immunization in Nigeria has revealed  that the country ‘ is on the verge of making history by eradicating polio, the entire nation must be made aware, rallied and mobilized to capitalize on this unique window of opportunity’.

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has tasked Governors of the 36 states ‘to continue to provide personal leadership, in your states for the programme by requesting and reviewing monthly reports from the local government chairpersons on the progress being made in their areas’ in order to avoid complacency or relapse to the era of widespread transmission of the paralysing disease.

This Year, the World Malaria Day commemoration in Nigeria assumed a new dimension as the WHO Country Office of Nigeria supported a wide-range of activities across the five (5) states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Lagos and Ogun to showcase commitment and partnership with the private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations, the media, research institutions, academia and the community in the fight against Malaria.

The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and values, Dr Mrs Sarah Jibril commended WHO in Nigeria for supporting the awareness campaign on preventing and managing teenage pregnancies held on the 9th May 2014 at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki the capital of Ebonyi state. The campaign was implemented by Bell and Bridge Crystal Foundation and supported by the World Health Organization, Nigeria.