Polio fight at risk over monkeypox scare

Rotary Club International has expressed fear that the recent vaccination scare in parts of the country may impede the success story already recorded in the eradication of polio in Nigeria. The Chairman of Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, Dr Tunji Funsho, who raised the alarm at a press conference in Awka, described as unfortunate the […]

Rotary Club International has expressed fear that the recent vaccination scare in parts of the country may impede the success story already recorded in the eradication of polio in Nigeria.

The Chairman of Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, Dr Tunji Funsho, who raised the alarm at a press conference in Awka, described as unfortunate the coincidence of the scare and Rotary’s programme of house-to-house vaccination of children in some parts of the country.

He canvassed for an aggressive public enlightenment on the issue , saying  anything short of that might lead to the return of polio.

Expressing delight over the absence of incident of polio in the country in not less than 14 months, Funso called on parents to ignore the killer vaccine rumour and avail their children for polio immunization and such programmes, assuring that Oral polio vaccine was safe, efficient and easy to administer.

“We are making efforts to reach every child, but we know there may be children somewhere we are missing, but we are working to ensure we reach all.

“It is costing us man hour, human and material resources to do so. If we are able to permanently eradicate polio, we will be saving  about $50 billion by 2030 and this money can be channeled into other health challenges like malaria. So mothers should comply by letting their children be vaccinated," he added.