By Sola Ogundipe
THE Federal Government and the 36 state governors including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been called upon to commit more tangibly to child survival efforts in Nigeria particularly poilo eradication, if the targets of the Millennium Development Goal 4 on child survival are to be attained by 2015.

The Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria, HERFON,  made the call weekend in Abuja, even as it described as “very bleak” the current state of polio eradication in the country  and urging government at all levels to stop paying lip service to the issue.

The call came just as the World Health Organisation, WHO, confirmed, that as of September 13, 2011, 25 new cases of the Wild Polio Virus infection were recorded in six states of the Federation – a  400 percent increase from the same period in 2010 when just six cases were recorded. Affected states are Kebbi with seven cases; Kano, six; Borno, four; Jigawa and Sokoto (three each) and Yobe,  two cases.

HERFON, an advocate for better care for all Nigerians, through identifying areas of poor performance within the health sector and accountability, noted in its latest series of high profile health publication on health issues entitled “Wild Poilo Scorecard: Wild Polio Virus cases (paralysed children) in Nigeria”, that  the involvement of Nigeria’s  leaders , particularly governors, and local government chairmen in eradicating polio, could be better.

“The 25 cases of wild polio for the year to date have been listed alongside the newly elected and re-elected government officials at each level. We are depending on these officials that have the majesty of their distinguished offices and the attendant influence at their disposal, to deliver the much talked about ‘dividends of democracy’ to those who voted them in and who pay taxes with the expectation of good and responsive governance,” HERFON noted. The HERFON observed that leaders in Nigeria have an immediate opportunity to prove their commitment to the eradication of polio.  “We are sure they would not want to be remembered as the leaders of lame people but rather physically healthy individuals. Our National dailies were inundated with pictures in early September of the governors administering oral polio doses in the mouths of children as they launched their ‘War on Polio’. We are hopeful that lip service is not being paid to this very important issue.”

Nigeria’s immunisation coverage is currently inadequate as a result of which the most cost-effective health intervention is not being optimally utilised. For as little as $0.60 (N90) worth of vaccine, a child can be protected from lifetime paralysis and ill health.

In April 2011 the Global Polio Eradication Initiative Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) confirmed that Nigeria was not on track to achieve the goal of interruption of wild poliovirus transmission by end 2011, but noted there was the potential to get back on track should implementation of identified priority activities be expedited and gaps in vaccination and surveillance rapidly addressed.