Over the past eight months, Nigeria has not recorded any case of polio. If this continues, in a few months, the country will attain status of “non endemic country”. Chairman, Polio Plus Committee, Dr. Tunji Funsho, says its the first time Nigeria has attained such  feat.

In a chat with Chioma Obinna, Funsho who oversees polio activities in Nigeria in partnership with the Federal government and partners on behalf of Rotary International, says it is a well deserved feat despite the challenges of a few years ago.  Excerpts:

Throughout last year ,we had only six cases of polio until July.   The previous year we had 56 cases. We have seen a gradual decrease to a point we are zero level for eight months. We are hoping that in another four months, the World Health Organisation, WHO, will declare Nigeria a non endemic country.

Polio free is different from being non endemic. These are very technical terms and they have health connotations. When you say a country is non endemic, it means that it has not seen that disease for 12 months. When you say the country is polio free it means that the country has no fear of having polio as long as it continues routine immunisation and that is the prerogative of the World Health organisation, WHO.

India, for instance was certified polio free last year in February having not seen any case of polio at all for the preceeding three years.   What we are looking forward to is that by July this year if there is no more case, we will become a non endemic country but not polio free. There is a robust of surveillance system that will pick up any case of paralysis; it does not matter whether it is polio or not. And there are protocols to ensure that those kinds of children are brought to attention, examine them and their stools are taken to ensure that it is not polio before you can say it is not true.

A polio free status can only come unto a country not a state.   A polio free status can only be conferred by WHO if after three years that country sees no more case of polio in the presence of robust surveillance system on polio, I know Lagos has not seen any case of polio for almost four years they do not fall under the category that you can say we are polio free.

Polio free certification is something that is prerogative of the WHO.  No state authority can confer on itself a polio free status.  It is a national initiative.
Nigeria on verge  of history.

Historically, Nigeria has never eradicated polio and it has been ravaging our children.  This is the first time we have gone for eight months without any case. It is a historical thing. The second thing about the optimism, we must give some credit to President Jonathan.

Through the setting up of the Presidential Task Force on Polio, he brought all the partners, government agencies, Rotary, WHO and UNICEF under one coordinated roof where they meet regularly and plan and execute. That kind of cooperation and collaboration within the agencies working towards one goal has really contributed tremendously.

On cost and funding, the government has done reasonably well releasing funds as at when due for polio eradication and that gives us a lot of hope.
We have seen results.

We were 156 cases in 2012, went to 56 in 2013 and last year we went six and this is what happened in India. When you see gradual reduction of cases as long as you continue doing those same things and be proactive in anticipating that things may happen that you did not plan for. From the experience of other countries similar to ours we know  we are getting somewhere.

Sigh of relief: For some of us who have been on the campaign, the first thing is to heave a sigh of relief. Second thing, is pride. A lot of people did not believe that we can get this far this quickly.
About three years ago, the international community – our partners, particularly, WHO, were still skeptical whether we will eradicate polio. Most importantly, the fact that no child needs to be crippled by polio anymore is another thing to be proud of.

Agenda for President-Elect: The presidential task force still exists. We are debating as to see the President-Elect or wait for him. One of the major tasks of Rotary in the partnership is to serve as leading advocacy organisation because we Rotarians are in government and corporate areas.
We need to get the President-Elect to continue on the track of his predecessor. If there is one good success story as far as health is concerned, it is polio because we are near eradication.  One has to give credit to the outgoing government.    Rotary, Bill Gates Foundation, WHO and UNICEF, are planning to see the President-Elect.