Saraki seeks more UN support to fight polio

ILORIN—Kwara State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Olusola Saraki, has urged the United Nations  to use its global goodwill to garner the requisite resources to support Nigeria in measles control and Polio eradication in the country.

This was contained in a statement by Billy Adedamola,  Media Adviser to the Governor, while addressing members of the United Nations Foundation Board at Transcorp in Abuja, yesterday.

The UN body is in Nigeria to learn first hand about the power of public private partnership in Nigeria’s primary health care efforts, particularly the progress made in measles control and polio eradication.

Saraki, who spoke on behalf of the 36 governors in the country, noted that the Forum had worked tirelessly with public spirited groups and companies in the private sector to achieve significant reduction in measles and polio attacks, but that despite the progress made, much still needs to be done.

He said: “The last lap to polio eradication can also be the most challenging. Global experts have urged Nigeria to intensify efforts towards complete eradication of the disease  by mid 2011.

“We are prepared to put in all that may be required to do this, just as we have declared zero tolerance for polio. But we will require global support to achieve this.”

Governors’ Forum intervenes

Saraki told the gathering of the Forum’s interventionist role in health care, particularly in polio eradication. He recalled that prior to the intervention of the Forum, several  futile efforts had been made towards waging a concerted fight against polio.