•Targets 2.5 children
By Stanley Onyekwere
As part of precautionary measures to sustain the poliovirus-free status of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nigeria at large, the Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), of the FCT Administration (FCTA) will today commence a supplementary polio immunisation campaign, targeting no fewer than 2.5 million children.
In particular, a total of 1.3 million children ages zero to 59 months would be vaccinated with the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2), while 1.2 million children, ages six weeks to 59 months would be vaccinated with the Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (FIPV), during the exercise from July 29 (today) to August 11.
This was disclosed on Friday, at a news conference organised in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), in Abuja.
Addressing Journalists, the Acting Secretary of FCTA Malan Haruna recalled that Nigeria has been certified free of the Wild Polio Virus since Aug. 25, 2020, by the WHO, adding, however, that a strain of the virus still exists.
Explaining that the strain, if left unattended to, can risk the resurfacing of polio incidence in the country, Haruna said: “This is why this supplemental exercise of polio immunisation is crucial to curb the virus from spreading.”
He disclosed that immunisation officers would be going from house to house, marketplaces, worship centres, schools, and other public places to immunise all children from age zero to 59 months.
He also enjoined parents to present their children to be immunised to strengthen their immunity against the virus.
Also speaking, WHO Coordinator, Integrated Health Service Delivery in the FCT, Dr. Kumshida Balami, said significant progress has been made in the effort to address the evolving risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Nigeria, as seen in an 89% decline in cVPV2 cases as of Week 15 of 2023.
According to her, the reasons for missed settlements and Major risks associated with the transmission of cVPD2 include low immunity to type 2 poliovirus due to low IPV coverage, evolving insecurity, heightened insecurity, displacement of settlements, and hard-to-reach/rugged terrain, restricting access to vaccination have created a pool of unreached children.
She added that others are malnutrition, poor Sanitation, polio surveillance Gaps among Nomadic/Migrant population movements and presence of orphan cVPV2 virus detections, and high risk of breakthrough/continuous transmission in states with a known history of being sources for international spread of NIE cVPV2 emergencies amongst others.
Balami, however, said that despite the efforts, there were still challenges and gaps.
“We have issues regarding missing children in hard-to-reach communities, major risk associated with the transmission of the virus, low immunity to type 2 poliovirus, and insecurity among others.
“This is why we are here to inform residents about the immunisation campaign and the strategies employed to leave no child behind,” she said.
On his part, Dr Isah Vatsa, Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, said that a made in Nigeria noodle would be given to every child who received the vaccine.
This, according to him, will serve as an incentive to parents and caregivers to bring out their children to be immunised.
He said that a total of 26,939 cartons of 40 pieces each, amounting to 1.19 million pieces of the noodles have been procured.
“The strategy, we believe, will improve uptake of the vaccines and it will be strictly monitored to avoid abuse and misuse,” he said.
He noted that despite the polio free status, the transmission of another strain, the Circulating Variant Poliovirus type2 (CVPV2) strain, had continued, with 168 reported cases in Nigeria in 2022 alone.
He said: “For Nigeria to be completely free from Polio, we must interrupt the residual risk of all forms of poliovirus and boost routine immunization coverage in the country.
“We are on course, as we have recorded only 14 cases in Nigeria in 2023”.
Vatsa said that although no case was recorded in the FCT, the risk was high considering that “the world is a global village”.
According to him, the danger of not interrupting the transmission of the VPV2 variant is that the weakened virus can revert to a form that causes illness and paralysis.
He added that the FCT Administration, through its PHCDB in collaboration with development partners, has deployed several strategies to ensure that every eligible child was reached.
The executive secretary further said that all the Primary Health Care facilities and government hospitals across the six Area Councils of the FCT would be used as vaccination posts.
He equally said that provisions were made for temporary vaccination posts situated in Churches, schools, markets, village squares and other designated points to ease stress on the parents and caregivers.
