World Polio Day: No Nigerian child should have poliomyelitis — UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stressed that in the present age and advancement in healthcare delivery services, no Nigerian child should be a victims of poliomyelitis.

The assertion was made by the Chief of Field (CFO), UNICEF Bauchi Field Office (BFO), Dr Nuzhat Rafique while flagging off the Walk Awareness to celebrate the 2024 World Polio Day held on Thursday at the premises of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health.

She stressed that “We must rise and try to support our children U-5 to stay healthy and give them a chance to grow to their best potentials. And I am thanking our survivors who are here with us.

“We are celebrating the Polio Champions with us today because they are also raising the awareness that no child should be affected by poliomyelitis. Every child has a right to have this vaccination and stay healthy and rest and enjoy the best of his life.

“So, please, we are all One in this very important mission and we should continue it till we achieve it. No, child should remain without vaccinations. And that is what is the reflection of moment today.

“Efforts have been intensified to ensure that all zero dose children are identified and made to receive the vaccination stressing that the issue of Zero dose will soon be over.

“And it is the moment of promising ourselves that we will achieve it together. Thank you very much.”

In his remarks, Word Health Organization (WHO) Coordinator in Bauchi, Dr Mustapha Mai’Iyali explained that the occasion is to celebrate the survivors of poliomyelitis the world over in order to give them a sense of belonging.

He stressed that,”The whole essence of Polio day is a day to raise awareness about devastating effects of the disease and not only for you to speak, but to take action and spread the message of awareness.

“It is also about raising awareness. So that our families, our mothers, our fathers can allow their children to receive the vaccination, so that children cannot become victims. It is also a day to celebrate for because you are our heroes.

“Like the people we have here, all of you are polio Heroes. You are helping us to reach families, to mobilize families, to raise awareness and to increase the need for more support. So that we can protect our children for a better future.

“So, I call on all of us to please continue in mobilizing our families, our communities. So that we can have a healthier community, and we will have healthier children, so that we can have a brighter future. May God bless us all.”

Also speaking on behalf of the Bauchi State Government, the Coordinator, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Polio said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that every child in the state got vaccinated against all of the identified child-killer diseases.

He explained that the State Government has been doing everything possible to procure the vaccines and make them readily available at the health facilities across the state.

The polio walk awareness was undertaken from the Headquarters of the Ministry of Health, Murtala Muhammad Way, CBN Roundabout, Nassarawa Street, Education Roundabout and terminated at the Palace of the Emir of Bauchi.

NGOs, CSOs, International Development Partners and members of the Polio Survivors Association participated in the walk amidst drumming, singing and dancing to the admiration of members of the public along the route.

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