*Tasks govs on regular evaluation, updates

Ilorin — The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has sent words of commendation to Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, following the progress made on polio eradication in the country. The foundation also called on the forum to regularly evaluate and issue updates on their polio efforts in their respective states with a view to ensuring total eradication of the deadly virus.

Co-chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, made the call in a letter to Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Mr. Gates, in the letter, thanked the governor for his active participation at the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and for giving him access to express his thoughts on polio eradication efforts at the Governors’ Forum meeting during his recent visit to the country.

He expressed optimism that the renewed commitment of the Governors’ Forum to this course would certainly end the scourge of the virus in no distant future.
Results of efforts

Gates also disclosed that the polio eradication efforts of his foundation and that of the Governors’ Forum were beginning to yield positive results with less polio cases now reported across the country.

He said: “With only three cases of polio reported in Nigeria this year, progress is both unprecedented and inspiring. But we must continue our hard work and strengthen our resolve to stop this deadly virus. I hope a re-commitment to the Abuja Commitments by Nigeria’s executive governors will help end wild polio virus transmission in the country.

“We cannot be complacent; we must act now.”

He further enjoined the governors, through their chairman, to remain steadfast in their determination to remove any impediment to polio eradication which will not allow them to complete the good job they have all started.

Report chain

He said: “I encourage you to request that your membership regularly issue updates on their polio efforts at each executive governors meeting.

“My suggestion is that the governors then report quarterly to the President, as per the Abuja Commitments. This type of reporting will add a layer of accountability to ensure that polio eradication remains a top priority on everyone’s agenda.

“Thank you for your tremendous dedication to this work. Together we will eradicate polio in Nigeria and throughout Africa.”