World Health Organisation (WHO) has said 51 cases of circulating Variant Polio Virus (cVPV2) have been detected in Nigeria between January and August 13 this year.
Speaking at a retreat organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with Sultan Foundation, for traditional leaders of inaccessible communities, WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walters Mulombo, said 47 of the 51 cases (92 per cent) are from the North West, and majority of the cases are from states with security challenges in the region.
NPHCDA Executive Director (ED), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, also confirmed to newsmen the detection of cVPV2 in 28 states across the country.
While stating that NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health remains steadfast in their objective: to halt the transmission of cVPV2 client by December 2023, the ED said: “Nigeria was declared polio-free in 2020 because we followed useful directives to the letter. Everyone supports ensuring that polio is eradicated. We can then use this platform to build a stronger routine immunisation and Primary Health Care (PHC) system.
