President welcomes the removal of Nigeria from list of polio-endemic countries

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement on Saturday, 26 September, 2015 that Buhari is delighted by the announcement which follows the absence of any case of the wild polio virus in

“The President applauds the concerted efforts of government officials, health workers, volunteer groups, civil society, religious leaders, traditional rulers and international partners which resulted in this historic achievement. While he joins other Nigerians and the global community in celebrating Nigeria’s removal from the list of polio-endemic countries, President Buhari urges continued vigilance to ensure that Nigeria maintains this new status”.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria has not reported a case of wild polio virus since July 24, 2014."All laboratory data confirm that 12 months have passed without any new case in the country.

"Nigeria has brought the world one major step closer to achieving this goal and it is critical that we seize this opportunity to end polio for good and ensure that future generations of children are free from this devastating disease.

"This leaves only Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only countries with endemic cases of the disease,’’ the organisation said in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

The statement quoted the Global Polio Eradication Initiative as describing the development as historic achievement in global healthcare.

WHO issued the statement after the recent Global Polio Eradication meeting in New York.

President Buhari assured WHO and the global community that the Federal Government will ensure that immunisation and surveillance activities continue across Nigeria and also departments and agencies involved in the polio eradication effort, to remain proactively engaged and on guard to keep the country polio-free.