FG, WHO, UNICEF partner Kebbi govt to tackle new polio variants

The Federal Government and development partners, including UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), GAVI, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Aliko Dangote Foundation, have reaffirmed their commitment to assist the Kebbi State Government in eradicating the variant poliovirus in the state by the end of the year 2024.

During the commissioning of an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the donation of four vehicles by GAVI, the federal government, and UNICEF in Birnin Kebbi, the partners emphasised that the establishment of the EOC marks a commitment and a starting point for collaborative efforts with the state government to combat the virus.

The UNICEF representative, Christiana Munduate, urged the state government to ensure its officials are dedicated to the fight against the virus.

She emphasised, “We want you to encourage your officials to work diligently with other development partners to swiftly bring down the prevalence of the virus.”

Dr Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, charged the state’s primary healthcare development agency to involve traditional rulers in the fight against the virus.

He also urged the state government to allocate a budget for the EOC and appoint a qualified professional to manage and coordinate the efforts of other development partners.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abubakar Atiku Kende, explained that the centre was established to address, mitigate, and contain the circulating poliovirus in the state.

He noted, “The present administration has been fulfilling its counterpart funding obligations. We will collaborate with our development partners to eradicate the virus.”