Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan remain countries with polio worldwide —AGPMN

Across the countries and continents of the world,  only three countries, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are still suffering with poliomyletis virus (polio).

The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMN),  who disclosed this on Tuesday during a Press briefing on poliomyletis, as parts of its activities to mark the World Polio Day, in Abuja described the development as very unfortunate and unacceptable.

The association said: “In all the continents of the world, poliomyletis has been wiped out virtually and it only exist in three countries of the world namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan and unfortunately our dear country Nigeria.”

To this end, the President of AGPMN, Dr Frank Omo Odafen, said the members of the the association have resolved to integrate and corporate with government in ensuring that the disease is removed and destroyed forever from Nigeria.

Odafen said the World Polio Day is set aside to bring advocacy and awareness on the existence of poliomyelitis in different parts of the world and to eliminate poliomyelitis in any facet and in any form it may exist in any part of the planet earth.

He pointed out that the World Health Assembly, sponsored by World Health Organisation (WHO) has resolved that like small pox was wiped out of the surface of the earth, polio which is a deadly disease should be wiped out from the surface of the earth.

He explained that polio ravages the head of children and results in suffering, infirmity and disability in children.

Odafen stated that over the years, Nigeria which recorded over 3,000 cases of polio per annum, was able to fight the scourge through the concerted efforts of the Federal Government and donor agencies.

Through this process, he said Nigeria was able to fight of the deadly disease through sensitization and immunization with regular surveillance so that poliomyelitis will no longer be experienced in Nigeria.

He, however regretted that despite the success recorded in 2014 and 2015 with zero polio cases, the disease re-emerged in the country in 2016.

As a result of this, he lamented that Nigeria is one of the three countries in the world that is still suffering from Polio, along with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As parts of efforts by the AGPMN, he said the members of the association were all over the country in all the nooks and crannies, helping in surveillance and immunization of children.

He added that as it has happened in other countries, Nigeria will soon become polio free.

Odafen commended the effort of the FG in freeing that North East from Boko Haram captivity to avoid further, degeneration of health and spread of Polio in the country.

He said: “We are resolving today that the battle against polio from Nigeria will be won, and anything less than 100% is not permitted.

“We are prepared and ready to employ and deploy resources and skills in helping FG to wipe out polio so that as it was spoken of small box, so will it be spoken of polio that it has been completely and irrevocably wiped out of the surface of the earth.”