Polio In Nigeria Again? Oh No!

By Simeon Christian Chukwu

Polymelitis often referred to as Polio is back and Nigeria returns to the list of countries still battling with polio cases. Sadly, our non-polio endemic status is gone again and we are back to square ONE. Nigeria was credited as a non-polio endemic country in 2015 and was almost at the verge of being certified a polio-free country in 2016 before the unwelcomed and renascent cases of two children surfaced in Gwoza and Jere Local Government Areas of Bornu State.

The Wild Polio Virus 1 (WPV1) was, according to Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), isolated in a child with Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) onset of paralysis on 15th July and close healthy contacts of that child; and in Jere from close healthy contact of a child who had developed AFP Symptoms on 4 July. Genetic sequencing suggesting they are most closely linked to WPV1 last detected in Borno in 2011, indicating the strain has been circulating since 2011 without detection. How we allowed this slip through is largely resting on our oars.

Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus known as ‘’poliovirus”. It is a state of being unable to move, orchestrated by muscle weakness. The weakness involves the legs most times but sometimes, the head, neck and a muscular partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

Polio is usually spread through infected excretory products entering the mouth from one person to another. It can also be transmitted through food and water from human excretion. Children, especially those under5 are more susceptible and more likely to contract the virus as is exemplified in Bornu State again. Polio is preventable through vaccines if all the doses are properly administered.

There are three countries still battling with poliovirus around the world with Nigeria, unfortunately, still fighting hard to get off the list. The countries are Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. Commendably, is the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health who swung into swift action immediately the polio cases were reported in Borno state.

Clearly, the unwelcomed and surreptitious return of polio to Nigeria can be attributed to we resting on our oars. We probably went to bed with our two eyes closed while basking in the euphoria of an endemic polio-free country for almost 2years running. However, the resurfacing of polio has nudged us back to reality – never to rest on oars. It has taken us aback.

The polio certification takes a two consecutive years process while that of a continent or region takes three consecutive years without any member of the countries recording a case. This means that Nigeria and West Africa will have to wait for another two and three years consecutively before we can be considered polio free nation and region. We are now like a man who is trying to climb a ladder, and while almost at the finish line, fell from the last step of the ladder and has to start all over again.

Nonetheless, we have already picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves and are back again towards being certified a country free from polio. And that’s what a determined Champion does. Though Nigeria is about the only country in West Africa still recording polio cases, and also doubles as the country holding the African continent and region from being certified polio-free, the country through the Ministry of Health is already working assiduously towards getting us back on track.

Just like we collectively consigned Ebola into history, we will also consign polio to history so that the African continent can stand shoulder to shoulder with America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific continents that have all been certified polio free.

We must never ever rest on our oars again. We must continue to strengthen our health system to the point of not just being reactive but proactive. We must also continue to lead advocacies and campaign on a healthy life style and proper nutrition all over the country; so that we and our children to come can be safe and free from endemics. We can achieve more for our health system by wholistically investing more into it. A polio free Nigeria should not continue to exist in our imaginations. It must become a reality by 2018. Nigeria should rise to sink no more and rise to the highest celebration.

By
Simeon Christian Chukwu
ONEChampion/ Research Consultant
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