Nigeria: FG partners Chad, Cameroon, others to fight polio

The federal government is collaborating with neighbouring countries including Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin Republic to ensure that all children leaving or coming into the country are immunised against childhood diseases including polio.

This is coming as President Goodluck Jonathan expressed optimism that the country will eradicate polio by the end of 2014.

The president who was represented by the minister of health, Professor Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu at the polio summit organised by the health ministry in collaboration with Rotary International, said so far Nigeria country has recorded only two cases of polio in the first quarter of 2014.

Jonathan said though the country has witnessed 86% reduction in polio cases, outbreak of the virus in neighbouring Cameroun and Benin may jeopardise the country's progress.

Nigeria has therefore increased surveillance to ensure that the present gains are sustained, Jonathan said.

"Let me call upon the governors to continue to provide personal leadership, in your state, for the programme, by requesting and reviewing monthly reports from LGA chairpersons, on the progress being made in their respective LGAs," the president said.

Earlier, the District 9125 governor, Rotary International, Mr Felix Aninze, said $120 billion had been committed by the end of 2012 by Rotary to eradicate the polio scourge.

He, however, said that because of civil conflict, inadequate infrastructure amongst others, the chance to eradicate polio was missed.