The World Health Organisation on Tuesday urged the Lagos State Government to issue an executive order mandating Polio and Routine Immunisation in schools and gated estates in the state.
Dr. Usman Adamu, Incident Manager, National Polio Operation Centre, made the appeal when he led delegates of the WHO on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, in Ikeja, Lagos.
Adamu described wild polio virus as a disease that causes paralysis and lifetime deformity in children, making them a burden to their families and the society as well as causing low productivity in the country.
According to him, Nigeria is still one of the three countries, alongside Pakistan and Afghanistan, that are still endemic of polio, saying urgent response was required to eradicate the scourge.
He said: “We are requesting for an executive order mandating vaccination in schools and gated estates; this has been noted to be a challenge in this state.
“We believe that the vibrant administration, which you lead, will provide that order to send a signal that wherever you are, you are mandated to obey the rules of the state by allowing your children to be vaccinated.
“This is because polio in one area is a risk in every other areas.
“We believe that if the executive order is put in place, residents will comply with the directive.
“It will go a long way to show that government is determined to eradicate polio in the state.”
Adamu said that significant improvement had been made in eradicating polio in Nigeria, adding that there had not been any new case of polio in the last 33 months.
According to him, Nigeria is close to being declared polio free status.
Adamu said Lagos State was trailing the blaze regarding the coverage of routine immunisation with 89 per cent.
He, however, noted that the ongoing Type-2 outbreak in Lagos environment, which was isolated in Makoko, Itire and Maracana Canal in Ajeromi-Ifelodun area, called for concern as the virus might infect other children in the state.
Adamu urged the state government to respond to the situation through strong routine immunisation, quality campaigns and sensitive surveillance system.
The Incident Manager also urged the State Task Force for polio eradication, headed by the deputy governor to supervise and ensure a hitch-free vaccination to break the transmission of the virus in the state.
Responding, Hamzat promised that an executive order would be drafted immediately to capture both the public and private schools in the polio vaccination and routine immunisation programmes.
The deputy governor said: “The truth is that when you hear that Nigeria is still endemic of polio, it saddens one.
“I want to assure WHO and other organisations that you will continue to find a partner in Lagos.
“It is too important for us to take the issue of polio eradication lightly. Not supporting this course, means punishing our children.
“The Babajide Sanwo-Olu led-administration will do all it can to make sure that children in both private and public schools are captured.
“Those who live in gated estates also have children in schools; the vaccination exercise is allowed in public’s schools, but we will work toward ensuring that private schools comply and allow vaccination of children.”
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