President Muhammadu Buhari has
welcomed Friday’s announcement by the World Health Organisation that polio is
no longer endemic in Nigeria.
The President’s reaction to the
development was contained in a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on
Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
The president expressed delight over
the announcement, which followed the absence of any case of the wild polio
virus in Nigeria since July 24, 2014.
He applauded the concerted efforts
of government officials, health workers, volunteer groups, civil society,
religious leaders, traditional rulers and international partners, which
resulted in this historic achievement.
Buhari, who joined other Nigerians
and the global community in celebrating Nigeria’s removal from the list of
polio-endemic countries, urged continued vigilance to ensure that “Nigeria
maintains this new status.”
The President directed all
government ministries, departments and agencies involved in the polio
eradication effort, to remain proactively engaged and on guard against the
re-emergence of the polio virus in Nigeria.
He assured the WHO and the global
community that the Federal Government would ensure that immunisation and
surveillance activities continued across Nigeria, to keep the country
polio-free.
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