BEVERLY HILLS, October 26, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government Monday reiterated its commitment towards the achievement of a polio free Nigeria in 2017. The Government also promised to sustain the needed funding for operations and vaccine procurement for the programme.
It also assured that the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication would be reconstituted under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health to provide political direction and oversight in order to avoid complacency and relapse.
President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurances in Abuja while speaking at the Presidential Villa at an event to mark the delisting of Nigeria as a polio-endemic country following a year with no single polio case in the country.
He expressed gratitude to the World Health Organisation (WHO) delegation, led by the WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan, which was in the country to perform the delisting ceremony, saying the Federal Government will sustain the current momentum and continue to regard this campaign as an emergency until the country is declared polio-free in the next two years.
President Buhari recalled his recommendation for the vaccinators, community mobilisers, partners, parents and caregivers who have supported the polio eradication initiative of Government through the years.
He commended the support of the traditional and religious leaders who, according to him, have contributed immensely to the polio eradication efforts. “By the same token we thank development partners, particularly WHO, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, US-CDC, Rotary International, and a host of others who contributed financially and materially to the over-all efforts,” he also said.
He however said: “For sustainability, it is important that the fight against polio and other communicable and non-communicable diseases, is anchored on a strong health system.
“The National Health Act has made provision for universal access to basic healthcare with a focus on the poor and the vulnerable as well as the basic healthcare provision funds to support its implementation.”
“ I have already instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide for the basic healthcare provision fund under the 2016 Budget Appropriation. We are also working on a revised National Health Policywhich would have the achievement of Universal Health Coverage as its main ultimate goal.”
“Another concern of the Health Sector under this Administration is addressing the significant morbidity and mortality rates caused by neglected tropical diseases. These diseases disproportionately affect the poor and the vulnerable and as such are major concerns of this Administration. We shall ensure that these diseases are no longer “neglected”.’
He assured that his administration would continue to work together to achieve the mutual objectives in the whole field of medicare.Polio: FG Promises To Sustain Current Momentum
The Federal Government Monday reiterated its commitment towards the achievement of a polio free Nigeria in 2017. The Government also promised to sustain the needed funding for operations and vaccine procurement for the programme.
It also assured that the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication would be reconstituted under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health to provide political direction and oversight in order to avoid complacency and relapse.
President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurances in Abuja while speaking at the Presidential Villa at an event to mark the delisting of Nigeria as a polio-endemic country following a year with no single polio case in the country.
He expressed gratitude to the World Health Organisation (WHO) delegation, led by the WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan, which was in the country to perform the delisting ceremony, saying the Federal Government will sustain the current momentum and continue to regard this campaign as an emergency until the country is declared polio-free in the next two years.
President Buhari recalled his recommendation for the vaccinators, community mobilisers, partners, parents and caregivers who have supported the polio eradication initiative of Government through the years.
He commended the support of the traditional and religious leaders who, according to him, have contributed immensely to the polio eradication efforts. “By the same token we thank development partners, particularly WHO, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, US-CDC, Rotary International, and a host of others who contributed financially and materially to the over-all efforts,” he also said.
He however said: “For sustainability, it is important that the fight against polio and other communicable and non-communicable diseases, is anchored on a strong health system.
“The National Health Act has made provision for universal access to basic healthcare with a focus on the poor and the vulnerable as well as the basic healthcare provision funds to support its implementation.
“ I have already instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide for the basic healthcare provision fund under the 2016 Budget Appropriation. We are also working on a revised National Health Policywhich would have the achievement of Universal Health Coverage as its main ultimate goal.
“Another concern of the Health Sector under this Administration is addressing the significant morbidity and mortality rates caused by neglected tropical diseases. These diseases disproportionately affect the poor and the vulnerable and as such are major concerns of this Administration. We shall ensure that these diseases are no longer “neglected”.’
He assured that his administration would continue to work together to achieve the mutual objectives in the whole field of medicare.
