The country representative of the United Nation’s International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria, Dr Peter Hawkins, has disclosed that Nigeria has recorded 120 outbreaks of vaccine-derived recently.
Hawkins disclosed these in his remarks at the Third Quarter Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Cares (PHC), review meeting, on Monday in Abuja.
“Vaccine-derived cases are rare, and they differ from wild cases. There are two kinds of polio cases; Wild cases of polio are caused by poliovirus that is circulating naturally in the environment.
“Vaccine-derived polioviruses are extremely rare and exist under specific circumstances. Oral polio vaccine contains live virus that is weakened so that it will prompt the body’s immune response without causing paralysis.”
Hawkins noted that that vaccine was ingested, and the weakened virus replicates in the child’s gut and was then excreted.
Hawkins further explained that the areas with poor sanitation, this excreted vaccine virus can spread to other children. This can actually be good because it then immunises them. When the strain no longer finds susceptible children, it dies out.
Hawkins warned against the dangers of undermining routine immunisation as the problem occurs in areas of low vaccination.
“There, such vaccine-derived strains of the virus can continue to circulate as long as they continue to find unvaccinated or otherwise susceptible children.
“While they continue to circulate, they mutate. Eventually, if they are allowed to circulate long enough, at least 12 months, they can mutate into strains that are strong enough to cause paralysis.”
Hawkins, however, assured that the oral polio vaccine had reduced the number of polio cases by 99.9 percent as the risk posed by wild poliovirus was far greater than the risk of an outbreak caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus.
The Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, disclosed that His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II), was providing leadership in the systematic engagement of the Traditional leaders in the SouthWest with the Southwest Traditional Leaders’ Committee on PHC delivery that was inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire on September 2021 at his Imperial Majesty’s palace, Ile-Ife.
“This shows that our traditional leaders have the interest of their community at heart and are collaborating with the Government in ensuring basic healthcare services are available to the people.”
Shuaib also noted that with the different disease outbreaks that the country was currently contending with, it was imperative that the approach becomes more integrated.
“This is because they are all interwoven. Amidst COVID-19, we have Cholera, CVDPV2 which is as a result of suboptimal routine immunisation in some parts of the country.
“As we conduct outbreak response campaigns, we need to find a way to integrate our responses for efficient utilization of available resources and to enhance confidence in our people,” he added.
Shuaib further noted that the Integration would also enhance the agency’s determination to continue to safeguard the wild polio virus-free status.
“Consequently, Your Highnesses, mobilisation, sensitisation, advocacy and role modelling efforts should target multiple interventions simultaneously.
“It is in the spirit of integration that we have adopted what we call the PSI (primary health care services integration) or ‘the whole of family approach’ for this second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination.
“It entails checking the blood pressure and assessing the diabetes risk status of clients 40 years and above and screening children 0 to 12 months for malnutrition and routine immunisation status,” he explained.
The World Health Organisation(WHO), representative, Dr Kofi Boateng, EPI Focal Point Universal Health Coverage(UHC), said that the meeting was in the right direction, as the role of traditional institutions played eradication of diseases such as polio was achieved due to lead position they played in the society.
Boateny stressed that in the delivery of quality PHC and the attainment of UHC, health security and routine immunisation the traditional leaders were crucial.
“Traditional leaders are needed for monitoring and accountability in the implementation of health policy to ensure health security,” he added.
Also speaking, Alhaji Samaila Muhammadu Mera, Emir of Argungu assured that the committee was working to ensure that all eligible Nigerians take the COVID-19 vaccines as they become available.
Mera said the committee working with traditional and religious leaders was taking steps to educate citizens in their community on the safety of the vaccines and the danger of not taking them.
He informed that nearly all village and District heads have taken the vaccine as a ways of setting example for others to follow.
He said, “What we intend to do as a committee is that we want to leave by example. I have taken my two shots and I believe every member of the committee has taken theirs. We have also advised and guided our councillors and members to also take it.
“Most District heads and village heads have taken it; this are leaders of our communities and the people have trust in them. Apart form this, we are also talking to the people about the safety of the vaccines, and the dangers of COVID-19.
“We tell them that the only preventive measure is the vaccine. We are leading by example, we also interacting with the people, bringing in other traditional and religious leaders on board that can influence people.”
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